In 2024, Shenzhen marked a milestone moment with the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the 2014 version of the "Shenzhen Economic Special Zone Smoking Control Regulations".
A survey shows that the key smoking rate indicator in Shenzhen (adults aged 15 and above) has dropped to 16.9%, lower than Beijing (19.9% in 2023) and Shanghai (19.4% in 2023), as well as below the national average of 24.1% in 2022. This achievement has allowed Shenzhen to reach the tobacco control goal of the Healthy China 2030 initiative ahead of schedule.
The Mainland's Strictest Smoking Ban, A "model" Praised by WHO
On March 1, 2014, the "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Smoking Control Regulations" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations") came into effect.
The "Regulation" is a comprehensive smoke-free law, which means smoking is completely prohibited in all indoor public places, workplaces, and public transportation, marking the official start of comprehensive smoke control in Shenzhen.
The regulation innovatively establishes a joint tobacco control system of "mobilizing the whole city", led by the health administrative department. Twenty-three units form a joint tobacco control committee, with eight units jointly enforcing the regulations. At the same time, a team of tobacco control volunteers is established to mobilize the entire society to participate, providing reference experience for promoting the integration of health into all policies.
Subsequently, in 2019, the "Regulations" were revised again to include bus stops, subway entrances, and e-cigarettes in the smoking ban, making it the strictest "smoking control order" in mainland China.
World Health Organization representative in China, Martin Taylor, praised the "regulation" as a legal model because it fully complies with Article 8 of the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The revised version highlights Shenzhen's progressive spirit and provides the public with stronger protection.
8 Units Join Forces to Enforce the Law, Setting Multiple "Mainland Firsts"
Since 2017, Shenzhen has pioneered a "wheel war" approach to tobacco control enforcement, which involves surprise, unannounced inspections. The media has tracked and reported on these operations, often broadcasting them live. So far, there have been a total of 31 rounds and 183 operations, creating a well-known anti-smoking brand among citizens.
In the past ten years of smoking control efforts, Shenzhen has fined over 8.75 million yuan, leading the way in both the severity of penalties and enforcement effectiveness nationwide. Eight law enforcement units collectively deployed enforcement personnel 1.868 million times; dissuaded smoking 1.984 million times; penalized 153,000 individuals for illegal smoking, with a total fine of 7.704 million yuan; inspected various venues 1.096 million times, issuing warnings and administrative penalties to 8,849 venues for violations, issuing 53,000 supervision opinions, penalizing 146 violations of laws and regulations with fines totaling 1.05 million yuan.
Over the past decade, Shenzhen's smoking control enforcement has achieved several "firsts" in China: the first 30,000 yuan fine for selling cigarettes to minors, the first 30,000 yuan fine for inadequate smoking control in internet cafes, the first 500 yuan fine for smokers who flee when caught, the first fine for illegal e-cigarette use, the first fine for e-cigarette retailers, the first inclusion of e-cigarettes in no-smoking signs, and the first trial installation of smoking control "electronic eyes".
The country's first "smoke control electronic eye" is using technology to empower precise law enforcement. The "smoke control electronic eye" was first piloted in Maluan Street, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, installed in smoke-free areas such as restaurants, stations, and internet cafes. It updates air quality data every 3 seconds and automatically alerts when smoke is detected, transmitting real-time information to the backend. Law enforcement officers can view clues on their phones and respond promptly to violations.
In 2023, Shenzhen launched the "Don't Smoke" smoking control complaint app, allowing citizens to scan and upload photos to report illegal smoking behavior. Upon receiving each complaint, the system will automatically assign volunteers from various streets to verify, supervise, and educate on site, with enforcement agencies following up accordingly.
Currently, there are 6732 tobacco control volunteers who have registered, received training, and passed certification on the "Don't Smoke" anti-smoking mini program. They have collectively served for a total of 54,995 hours, with over 39,000 instances of volunteer service and overseeing more than 15,000 smoking control venues. The "Don't Smoke" mini program has processed nearly 15,000 complaints to date.
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