Shenzhen sees 1st e-cigarette penalty in Chinese mainland

A man smoking an electronic cigarette in the bus station near a science and technology park in Shenzhen was fined 50 yuan ($7) on Monday, marking the first e-cigarette penalty in the Chinese mainland, the Beijing News reported.

The man was fined for violating the new regulation on smoking control implemented in Shenzhen since Oct 1.

The new regulation extends nonsmoking places to nine from the previous seven types. Places including within five meters of the entrance and exit of public transportation terminals, outdoor platforms and waiting areas for public transportation are listed as nonsmoking areas, according to Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission.

According to the commission, the new regulation also clarifies the definition of “smoking” and “tobacco products”, emphasizing that electronic cigarettes are within the scope of tobacco products.

The man who was fined said he started smoking e-cigarettes over a month ago, and didn’t know e-cigarettes were prohibited in Shenzhen because he had just arrived from Guangzhou.