Smokers punished for public puffing

More than 100 people in Shanghai have been punished for violating the new smoking ban, which took effect on March 1.

In the first month since the implementation of the regulation, law enforcement departments visited more than 30,000 public venues, with 277 venues and 115 people punished for violating the rule, and fines totaling 605,800 yuan ($88,000) handed out, according to the Shanghai Health Promotion Commission.

In March, law enforcement departments at the city and district level worked together to carry out large-scale inspections, especially in commercial areas, office buildings and crowed public places. Venues and individuals failing to adhere to the new regulation were punished, the commission said.