Youth smoking trend prompts action by city

BEIJING - Beijing will draft new city regulations strengthening enforcement of an existing smoking ban, at a time when new statistics are showing a high inclination among teens to try tobacco.

Public health experts say that Beijing's current smoking ban lacks teeth due to poor enforcement.

"The ban on smoking in public places issued by the Ministry of Health in May has barely had any effect because there are no specific penalties for people who smoke and violate the ban," said Suo Chao, speaking for the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control, which recently conducted a survey on smoking of about 40,000 students across China.