China mulls tougher tobacco controls

China is considering a ban on all forms of tobacco advertising, sponsorship and promotion, according to a draft regulation published on the website of the State Council’s legislative affairs office.

Pending public consultation, the draft also includes plans to ban certain smoking scenes in films and TV shows.

The draft bans smoking in kindergartens, schools, colleges, women and children’s hospitals as well as in fitness venues. Outdoor smoking is only allowed in designated areas.

The proposal prohibits selling cigarettes to minors through vending machines.

As the world’s largest tobacco maker and consumer, China has more than 300 million smokers. Despite signing the World Health Organization’s Framework on Tobacco Control, smoking in public remains widely tolerated.