REUTERS: China will ban smoking at all indoor public venues from May in an effort to shield the world's most populous nation, and its largest cigarette producer, from the harmful effects of the habit, the health ministry said.China, which has more than 300 million smokers, will require businesses to display prominent no-smoking signs, forbid vending machines from selling cigarettes and ensure that designated outdoor smoking zones not affect pedestrian traffic, according to a ministry statement reported in Chinese media on Thursday.
Businesses should educate customers about the health hazards of smoking and workers should attempt to stop smokers from lighting up, the ministry said.
The ministry did not state specific penalties -- a sign that the new ban might not be rigorously enforced. Read on and comment » | Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Chris Lewis | BEIJING | Thursday, March 24, 2011
