China mulls stricter tobacco control

Beijing

SMOKERS who light up at indoor public areas could be fined as much as 500 yuan (S$106) and operators who don't stop them may have licences revoked under a proposed law as China considers stricter tobacco control.

Operators would be required to set up designated areas for smokers, with few exceptions such as women and children's hospitals where smoking is totally banned, according to the document drafted by the health ministry and posted on the website of the law-making State Council on Tuesday.