China bans cigarettes from schools

The newest ban, imposed by the Ministry of Education, covers kindergartens, elementary and middle colleges, and vocational colleges. Universities need to set up smoking areas and forbid lighting up in academic buildings.

Anti-tobacco efforts have been hampered by the country’s powerful tobacco monopoly, well being campaigners say, which pays hundreds of billions of yuan in taxes each yr.

Critics say an additional issue is that it is not clear who is accountable for punishing violators of cigarette bans, that means officials typically just flip a blind eye.

Schools can no longer look for sponsorship from cigarette brands or publish tobacco advertisements on campus, the ministry explained in a observe.

School principals must enforce the ban by putting in smoke alarms or surveillance cameras to spot offenders. College canteens have to also quit offering tobacco.

Colleges that do not crack down properly will be punished, the ministry explained.

As portion of the battle against smoking, the government had earlier urged Communist Celebration cadres and government officials to stop smoking in schools, workplaces, stadiums, and on public transport and elsewhere to set a great illustration.

edited by Arron Merat

China bans cigarettes from schools