China, home to the world's largest number of smokers, has introduced a ban on government officials from smoking in public, to set an example to the rest of the country.
From now on, officials are not allowed to light up in hospitals, schools, sports venues, on public transport or in any other places where smoking is banned, or to smoke or offer cigarettes when performing official duties.
It is hard to imagine in a country where business in public buildings is routinely carried out in a fug of smoke and where offering around cigarettes in rural areas is an essential conversation-opener.
China makes and smokes more cigarettes than any other country, with more than 300 million smokers. Smoking is linked to 1.4 million deaths every year.
The Xinhua news agency reported that cadres cannot use public funds to buy cigarettes, and offices of the Communist Party or government bureaus are not allowed to sell cigarettes or advertise them. Public buildings must have more prominent notices of smoking bans in meeting rooms, reception offices, passageways, cafeterias and toilets.
Negative influence
A circular from the Communist Party's central committee and the State Council, China's cabinet, said: "Some officials smoke in public places, which does not only jeopardise the environment and public health but tarnishes the image of Communist Party and government offices and leaders and has a negative influence."
In 2003, China signed the World Health Organisation’s framework convention on tobacco control, which became effective in January 2006 andrequired a reduction in tobacco supply as well as consumption. The government’s 12th five-year plan (2011- 2015) promised to ban smoking in public places but the rules are not strictly enforced.
The annual number of cigarettes sold rose by 50 per cent to 2.52 trillion in 2012 compared with 10 years earlier, according to the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control.