Tobacco control a tough task

ON MONDAY, CHINA'S CABINET PUBLISHED draft regulations for a smoking ban in all indoor public venues to solicit public opinions. The first national administrative rule of its kind, the draft points to more attention on tobacco control from the top authorities.

With more than 300 million smokers and 28.1 percent of its population aged above 15 addicted to cigarettes, China faces a tough challenge to control tobacco use. It has failed to do a good job in the past decade since it ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2003.

Only 13 cities, such as Beijing and Shanghai, have implemented local administrative regulations banning smoking in indoor public venues since 2008.