What Shanghai's smoking ban means to you

CFP

Shanghai has cracked down on smoking, and they've cracked down hard. Beginning March 2017, smoking will be banned in all public places in Shanghai, authorities announced this month.

What counts as a public place, you ask? Apparently the remit includes all restaurants, offices, hotels, entertainment venues, airports, railway stations, bus stations, hospitals, tourist attractions, primary schools and stadiums. That's a lot of places. Designated smoking areas in restaurants, bars, and public transport waiting areas will be banned, as well as designated smoking rooms in hotels.

Outdoor smoking areas will be allowed, provided they are 'away from the public' and approved by fire prevention authorities. Of course this ban does not completely outlaw smoking everywhere - notably, the ban does not mention shops or shopping centres.

We've heard lots of talk of smoking bans before. Will this one actually be enforced? Well, according to sources businesses who don't obey or enforce the smoking ban could be fined 2,000-30,000RMB, and individuals 50-200RMB. Members of the public are encouraged to send photos of offenders to the 12345 hotline - but you might want to make that photo candid if you don't want to end up with a cigarette butt to the face.

The ban was intended to protect the public from secondhand smoke - China is the largest consumer and producer of tobacco in the world, with one out of four people smoking and over half the population exposed to secondhand smoke every day.

If you plan on significantly upping the amount of smoking you do at home in light of the news, perhaps an air purifier is something to add to your Christmas list. Click 'read more' at the bottom of this page to find one.