The number of smokers in Beijing who support the smoking ban has dramatically declined four months after it was implemented, a tobacco control association announced on Tuesday.
Compared to more than 95 percent of smokers who voiced their support before the ban took effect on June 1, only 70 percent currently support it, said Cui Xiaonong, a doctor from the Beijing Cancer Hospital, who conducted a survey for the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control (CATC), at a press briefing on Tuesday.
The smokers realize the ban has imposed too many restrictions, Cui said.
The survey on the smoking ban's effect conducted before and after the ban was implemented covered 441 public places in Beijing, including restaurants and Internet cafés, 46 primary and secondary schools.
The survey shows that the environment at Beijing's public places has greatly improved.
The number of tobacco stores within 100 meters of schools has dropped by 24 percent and their sales have declined, the results show.
Xu Guihua, vice head of the CATC, told the Global Times on Tuesday that although 76 percent of respondents were satisfied with the ban's implementation, the survey shows the public had greater expectations for a smoke-free environment.
"We will improve law enforcement, and strengthen our information campaign on the regulation and dangers of tobacco," Xu said.
The survey shows that over 90 percent of the respondents support the campaign, Xu said.
Xu said law enforcers have assigned 43,874 people to monitor public places. More than 3,900 places violated the ban, with fines topping 400,000 yuan ($62,760).
