Back in March, the city of Shanghai introduced a ban to ward off smoking in public places. Three months in, is the city on the patch?
Let’s start with the good news: smoking was found in 31 percent fewer indoor places since the ban was instituted, according to a report issued on May 31 by the city’s Health Promotion Commission. Backtrack to April and evidence of smoking in indoor public places was down a whole 15 percent compared to data from end of 2016.
Here’s the bad news: the sour smell of cigarette smoke still suffocates the streets of Shanghai. Smokers were still uncovered at 28 percent of restaurant investigations and 30 percent of entertainment venues. There is a silver lining though—the numbers are down from 51 and 50 percent, respectively.
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Even so, smoking still permeates. Public transport areas, factories, hotels and multiple-story buildings are common hangouts for smokers.
Law enforcement and most on-site employees continuously reinforce the ban, clearing smokers from cultural sites, government institutions, restaurants and hospitals. Though the smoking rooms in public facilities have been removed, cigarette butts are often found in entertainment venues, restaurants, airports, long-distance bus stations, multiple-story apartments and factories, according to the report.
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Throughout March and April, 133 illegal smokers and 476 venues were fined a whopping RMB1.13 million (USD165,000) due to their breach of the law.
Residents in Shanghai stated that people often smoke in elevators of residential districts and in public places in office buildings. Those who have used the 12345 hotline to report violators haveof slow response time.
The report detailed that the amount of smoking in stairwells rose a solid 2.6 percent in April, while the 7.8 percent of people who were spotted smoking in front of elevators remained at this number.
[Images via Flickr and The Nanfang]
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