Beijing: China will ban smoking in more indoor public places like hotels and restaurants as of May 01, while excluding many workplaces.
The guidelines given on the Health Ministry's website is the latest effort to curb tobacco use in the country with the most smokers in the world.
Dr Sarah England, head of the World Health Organization's Tobacco Free Initiative in China, says the regulation covers a broader array of venues than previous guidelines issued in 1991. But it excludes government offices and other workplaces.
The regulation calls for no-smoking signs to be put up in public places, and requires owners of public places to employ staff to persuade smokers to stop smoking.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 11:19