Smoking on increase in Shanghai's 'disaster zones'

Shanghai saw smoking rates rise in internet bars, entertainment venues and restaurants last year, despite becoming one of the first mainland cities to attempt to restrict the habit in public places.

Officials referred to the three areas as smoking "disaster zones" and admitted the outlook for implementing the restrictions - imposed three years ago - was "not optimistic".

The smoking occurrence rate, in places where inspectors detect smoking within 15 minutes, rose to 54 per cent in internet bars, 46 per cent in entertainment venues and 26 per cent in restaurants.

Only 48 per cent of public venues said they had hired staff to persuade people to give up cigarettes last year, the lowest level in the past three years. Li Guangyao , deputy director of the municipal health enhancement commission, said the rising smoking occurrence rate was partly due to more government inspections.

But he said it could be attributed mainly to a lack of co-operation from business owners, society's poor awareness of the issue and the toothlessness of Shanghai's tobacco control regulation.

He said officials found it difficult to punish perpetrators as the regulations stipulate that officials can only educate them the first time they are caught.