BEIJING: Health and tourism authorities in Olympic City have proposed a smoking ban in restaurants in an effort to provide a smoke-free Games in 2008.
According to an official circular, smoking will be banned from Olympic signed hotels, Olympic venues and restaurants at the Olympic Games village and popular Chinese scenic spots before June next year.
In other areas of the city, large restaurants would be required to allocate at least 75% of the total space for non-smokers.
Beijing said it was taking a lead from the non-smoking environments provided at the Sydney Olympics.
A Beijing health official said the smoking bans reflected the city’s efforts to provide a non-smoking environment for the Games. The move would also help to influence the public’s knowledge of smoking and tobacco risks, the official said.
