In a welcome move the Chinese government has taken the decission to ban smoking in public places to make a smoke-free environment in Beijing. The government is soon to induct a provision to ban smoking in public places and will be enacted on May 31.
Though the overall smoking rate has been considerably declined in China and particularly Beijing at a percentage of 11.5 in the past decade but keeping in mind the upcoming world event of Olympics starting from August 08, 2008, the Health department in a strong move has decided to make the sporting event and all public places smoke-free, where athletes are about to meet during the sporting event.
The ban will go into effect in all Beijing offices, restaurants, hotels, event venues, training centres including gym, health clubs and all places of social gatherings.
Though the government had earlier imposed ban on smoking in public places but this time the administration is more committed keeping in mind the Olympic Games and also to curb the growing number of tobacco users in the nation.
The World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2008, released earlier this month criticised growing advertising of tobacco product in China and India. The report also pointed out the death of 100 million people to tobacco in the 20th century out of which at least 70 percent are from developing countries. And if the rate persists without any valid effort from the government then it may kill a billion more in the 21st century.
The report also cites the increase incidence among young women and same in the case of China where there are 350 million smokers constitutes a 26 percent of country’s population and one-third of world’s smoking population.
This time the anti-smoking policy of the Chinese government seems a more concerted one and such regulation will be an effective one for the world event Olympics, which certainly sets an example for the rest of world to follow. The new regulations are expected to come into effect after February.
|
|
Comments:
