China, which has the world's largest number of smokers, is making another effort at limiting smoking by banning officials from lighting up in public. This time, the edict is coming from the highest levels of the ruling Communist Party and government.
Until Sunday's notice from the State Council, or China's Cabinet, and the party's central committee, efforts to curb smoking in public places were largely limited to city and other local-level measures. The health ministry pushed out guidelines banning smoking in venues including hotels and restaurants in 2011, but these were criticized as having no clear punishments or details on how such bans would be enforced.
The new rules, which campaigners hope will help bring about a nationwide law banning smoking in public places, call on officials to lead by example by stubbing out their cigarettes. Officials are not allowed to smoke in schools, hospitals, sports venues, on public transport or any other places where smoking is banned, or to smoke or offer cigarettes when performing official duties, the official Xinhua News said. They also cannot use public funds to buy cigarettes, and within Communist Party or government offices tobacco products cannot be sold nor adverts displayed.
"This is likely a major breakthrough. For the first time, very high-level attention and support is being given to anti-tobacco efforts," said Ray Yip, head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's China program. The foundation has been working on smoking cessation campaigns in the country.
"This likely will lead to meaningful legislation and enforcement related to smoking," Yip said.
