Fewer people in Beijing smoke following ban

Number of smokers in Beijing has decreased significantly by 200,000 since the city launched a strict public smoke ban nearly two years ago. (Photo: China News Service)

The number of smokers in Beijing has decreased by 200,000 since the city brought in a strict smoking ban less than two years ago.

According to a report on tobacco use among adults, the smoking rate this year went down to 22.3 percent, compared with 23.4 percent in 2014, even though only about 30 percent of adults were said to understand the serious risks to disease caused by smoking.

The report also indicates that 16.8 percent of adults attempted to quit smoking this year, an increase of 1.9 percent compared with 2014.

Meanwhile, the report also shows that smoking in public spaces and second-hand smoking indoors has also been declining.

An earlier report shows that Beijing has established the most transparent law-enforcement system for smoking control in the country, with over 1,400 people among every 10,000 receiving smoking-quit services.