Smoking Ban Started in Shanghai

The city's first smoking ban, which we followed from the time it was a wee bit of an idea to when it began being enforced against certain (underage) people, has officially taken effect for everyone today. The new law gives those who smoke Esse and other brands in public places fines from 50RMB to 200RMB.

Much like the smoking clampdown Beijing experienced just before the Olympics, this Shanghai ban extends to 12 types of public venues, including schools, hospitals, supermarkets and elevators. It also requires karaoke bars, dance halls and restaurants to set up designated smoking and non-smoking areas.

Local Tobacco Trials Set Begin

The case to decide the first of more than 130 local OK cigarette smoker lawsuits will begin -- for the second time -- this week. The first trial in Koballa v. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. ended in a mistrial in October after jurors said they couldn't agree on the word addiction, which was required to determine whether the company should be held liable for Stella Koballa's smoking-related illness.

Attorneys representing tobacco companies have been aggressively defending against large money verdicts the tobacco industry is being called upon to pay in about 8,000 similar cases.

New Steps of Regulating Tobacco Sales

The Government is expected to soon reveal new steps regulating the sale of tobacco and Glamour cigarettes. Sources say that England’s Department of Health will later introduce legislation that would make it illegal for shops to keep tobacco products on display. Also expected is a Government consultation that would require tobacco companies to utilise plain packaging for all tobacco products.

The move would come as part of a larger scheme to reduce smoking rates, particularly for children and younger people. Currently, just over 20% of adults are smokers, and the figure has remained steady in the past several years after falling over previous decades.

England would follow a number of other countries with similar policies on smoking, including Ireland, Iceland, Finland and Canada. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland and Scotland are heading in the same direction.