China's Capital, Beijing Bans Smoking

The ban was announced on Monday in a country that is synonymous with smoking. It is known that one of every three smokers in the world is Chinese.

The places where smoking is prohibited includes indoor public places, including offices, shopping malls and airports, as well as at outdoor stadiums, school grounds and public parks. Beijing’s main airport terminal will now close its three smoking rooms.


According to the BBC, fines for offenders is now 200 yuan ($32), up from the 10 yuan ($1.60), also owners of restaurants and other businesses will pay fines of 10,000 yuan (about $1,600) if they allow smoking by their customers.

This is not the first time Beijing has tried to prohibit smoking. A ban launched in 2008 was generally ignored. Airport was forced to reopen the smoking rooms in its terminals despite closing them before.

This is not the only ban China has imposed in some of its regions. Back in February, China’s far-western Xinjiang province passed a law prohibiting residents from wearing hijab in public.

Nigeria meanwhile, has also imposed such ban on smoking back in 2009. Public smoking is punishable by a fine of not less than N200 and not exceeding N1000 or to imprisonment to a term of not less than one month and not exceeding two years or to both a fine and imprisonment.

Despite this law, Nigerians still smoke freely and in public places.