Changing people's habits

More and more administrative restrictions are popping up in people's daily lives - for instance, the ban on free plastic bags, the ban on smoking in public areas, and the requirement for real-name registration when buying a cell phone or kitchen knife - unfortunately, human nature means such measures seldom achieve their intended purpose.

For example, on June 1, 2008, China introduced a ban on free plastic bags and also ordered producers to stop making bags that are thinner than 0.025 millimeters in a bid to reduce energy consumption and pollution.

Immediately after the ban was introduced there was a significant drop in both the use and production of plastic bags. However, demand soon surged again.