Beijing relents on smoking ban
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The China Daily said customers at these places could still light up as long as they had separate smoking and non-smoking areas from May 1.
Government official Zhang Peili was quoted saying that a carpet ban was a tough challenge in a country which has around one third of the world’s smokers – 350 million in total.
“Originally, we wanted restaurants to keep 70% of their areas smoke-free, but owners of Chinese restaurants – both big and small – worried the plan would hurt their business,” Zhang told China Daily.
“It is difficult for us to control smoking in restaurants. It’s just part of the culture.”
The amended rule means only government offices, schools, museums, hospitals and sports venues will be designated smoke-free areas.
A Guardian report quoted a study which said the government earned RMB240billion in tobacco taxes in 2005. But the rising cost of healthcare – around 1 million people a year are thought to die from smoking-related diseases – has prompted many officials to seek to crack down on the habit.
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