Nearly 600 Beijingers fined after breaking smoking ban

Source:Xinhua Published: 2015-11-25 23:45:50

Five months after Beijing introduced a tough smoking ban, 217 organizations and 598 individuals have been fined for breaking the regulation, local authorities said Wednesday.

The fines totaled about 570,000 yuan (89,262 U. S. dollars), said Wang Benjin, deputy head of Beijing health inspection institute.

The ban has been in effect since June 1 and prohibits smoking in all public indoor places, workplaces and on public transport in Beijing.

Individuals caught smoking may be fined up to 200 yuan, while businesses may have to pay up to 10,000 yuan if they fail to discourage smoking on their premises.

Inspections show that schools, hotels and hospitals are places where the ban has been carried out most strictly, while restaurants have been the worst in enforcing the law, according to Wang.

Additionally, an anti-smoking tip-off hotline received 9,291 complaints. Wang said, adding that government buildings and officials' offices have been the focus of public attention. A total of 429 government organizations have received complaints so far.

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