Throwback Thursday: 2015 – A Smoke-Free Beijing?

In Throwback Thursday we look back on the news of yesterday, today, from the future, with more understanding of the past, but with just as much ignorance regarding tomorrow. That's human nature, folks!

Proof of such is this piece dug up from December 28, 2010, a mere three days before Beijing was set to enforce its second public spaces smoking ban, the first failed attempt being just prior to the Olympics. However, in true flip-flop Beijing style, someone bottled it (was given a wad of cash) and had a last-minute change of heart, pushing the ban four years (!) into the future, to us, to 2015. Strangely enough it seems to have stuck ... with about 12.8 percent efficacy (completely made up).

So, tighten your belt, spit on the floor with a steely look on your face, jump into the DeLorean, and get ready for a big ol' dose of history ...

Whilst air pollution escalates almost unchecked to new and more dangerous levels, could Beijingers hope for some respite indoors? Not anytime soon as the Health Bureau looks to 2015 as the time to ban indoor smoking in the city. This pushes back the ban from the originally scheduled, and all too hopeful, January 1, 2011.

Recently an article in Xin Jing Bao (Chinese only) announced that, “Jan 1st, 2011 used to be the date of a smoking ban in public places, but it turns out it is impossible to achieve that goal.” Many who were here will also remember the government backtracking on their pre-Olympics smoking ban. But the question that must be asked is why will this take five years?

According to yesterday's China Daily, the 2015 ban will work to make all Beijing indoor public places completely smokefree. This includes bars, restaurants, clubs and other places of public entertainment. Over the next few years, we should all be noticing a drastic increase in anti-smoking posters, banners, leaflets, and overly-repetitive ads on the subway.

With air pollution reaching the most hazardous levels in recent memory, hopefully by 2015, we will be able to breathe a little easier. Just as encouraging, non-smokers can go clubbing and wake up the next day not smelling like a giant ashtray.

– Original article by Nick Inatey

So, there we have it. Can we breathe easier? Is there less smoking indoors than in 2010? Do you smell less like a giant ashtray? That's up to you to decide – I ain't no scientist. But you can click here if you'd like to know lots more about smoking in Beijing, which might help or even substitute as a kind of thinking man's nicotine.

More stories by this author here.

Email: tomarnstein@thebeijinger.com
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