Beijing is revising its smoking-ban regulations and will raise the value of fines imposed on smokers who smoke in public places.
Under the existing rules for banning smoking in public places, Beijing has delegated the responsibility for managing smoking bans down to individual organizations such as businesses, schools, hospitals, restaurants, banks, and offices, requiring these organizations to make a no-smoking rule and place a no-smoking sign in their venues.
At present, Beijing fines people who smoke in the public places CNY10 each time, which is probably too small amount to deter the violators. Cui Xiaobo, a representative of the team that is drafting Beijing's new smoking-ban regulation, told local Chinese media that the fines will be increased to CNY50-200 for individual violators and businesses and work units who fail in banning smoking effectively will be fined up to CNY10,000.
Cui states that about 70% of the people surveyed have expressed their support for the increase in the fines and 50% of them hope that the government will strengthen its efforts in banning smoking.
It is learned that draft of the new regulation will be completed by the end of this year.
