Smoke 'within your limits' in Shanghai

In its latest effort to minimize the effects of passive smoking, Shanghai city will implement the Shanghai Requirements for the Establishment and Management of Designated Smoking Sites Outdoors, starting from Sept 1.

The city's latest effort to encourage smokers to refrain from smoking while walking and minimize impact on non-smokers, proposed by the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and compiled by a number of institutions led by the Shanghai Health Promotion Center, is the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland to better manage passive smoking in public venues in the city, which started banning smoking in indoor public spaces in March 2017.

Summarizing the city's practical experience in tobacco control management for years and combining foreign practices, the requirements made clear standards for outdoor smoking sites, facilities, signs and health tips, and clarified management demands for daily inspection and maintenance of such spots.

For example, the designated outdoor smoking sites must be kept at a distance of not less than six meters from entrances and exits of buildings and the closest doors and windows on the buildings. It should never be set up in crowded areas, such as rest areas, waiting areas, and also along main passages that pedestrians cannot avoid. The designated sites should each cover an area of no more than 6 square meters.

The requirements also said that public venues should use a unified sign to guide smokers to designated outdoor smoking sites, and there shall never be tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship of any kind at such places.

As many as 200 designated outdoor smoking zones have been constructed by March, including those at commercial complexes, sports centers, parks, exhibition centers, public transportation hubs and hotels, waterfront public areas, and the number will reach 300 by the end of this year.

By 2030, Shanghai aims to bring the passive smoke exposure rate to below 36 percent for adult nonsmokers and below 10 percent for minors. The figure for adult nonsmokers exposed to passive smoking was 41.7 percent in 2022, a decrease of 9.8 percentage points from the previous year.

Official data also showed that the cigarette and e-cigarette usage rates among middle school students in Shanghai are the lowest among the 31 provincial-level regions on the Chinese mainland.