Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the slow progress of comprehensive smoke-free legislation in China, highlighting that only 24 cities, covering approximately 16% of the population, are under full smoke-free legal protection nearly 20 years after the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control came into effect in China [3][4]. Group 1: Legislative Impact - Smoke-free legislation effectively reduces smoking behavior, with Beijing's adult smoking rate decreasing from 23.4% in 2015 to 19.2% in 2025, a decline of 4.2 percentage points [4]. - The implementation of the Beijing Smoking Control Regulation has led to significant health benefits, avoiding nearly 500,000 hospitalizations due to acute myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and childhood asthma [4]. Group 2: Economic Benefits - From 2015 to 2025, the comprehensive economic benefits of the Beijing Smoking Control Regulation amounted to 125.7 billion RMB, representing 0.23% of Beijing's GDP during the same period [5]. - In 2024, the economic benefits from the regulation were approximately 11.6 billion RMB, accounting for 0.22% of Beijing's GDP for that year [5]. - The reduction in smoking-related healthcare costs is notable, with an estimated savings of 2.64 billion RMB in 2024, which is 2.5% of the total healthcare expenditure in Beijing [5]. Group 3: Enforcement Challenges - Despite stricter enforcement trends in cities with smoke-free legislation, challenges remain, including inter-departmental responsibility issues and low compliance from businesses [6]. - Public participation in smoking regulation has increased, with citizens actively reporting violations in various public spaces, contributing to heightened enforcement pressure [6]. Group 4: Long-term Mechanisms - Beijing has established a multi-departmental mechanism for handling smoking complaints, enhancing the enforcement of smoke-free regulations [7]. - In Shanghai, the Public Places Smoking Control Regulation has undergone two revisions over 15 years, achieving comprehensive indoor smoking bans and incorporating e-cigarettes into the regulations [7].
北京控烟立法十年成效显著,经验可否复制?
第一财经·2025-11-02 11:18