Beijing Health Inspection Office: 'E-cigarettes' are not within its enforcement scope

Today (June 1) marks the first day of the implementation of the “Tobacco Control Regulations.” The municipal health supervision office's law enforcement personnel inspected the smoking situation in places such as hospitals and schools.

At 9 a.m., reporters followed the law enforcement personnel to Chaoyang Hospital. Prominently displayed in the hospital lobby are several “No Smoking” signs. “This is the old version of the sign; the new version should include a complaint hotline,” said Wang Benjin, deputy director of the municipal health supervision office. Reporters also found several cigarette butts in hidden areas of the hospital lobby, with some citizens unable to wait and starting to smoke as soon as they exited the door.

Wang Benjin explained that if smoking behavior is found in no-smoking areas, immediate persuasion should be made, and if persuasion is ineffective, the 12320 hotline can be called to report. Regarding the “e-cigarettes” that some smokers are using, he stated that there are no relevant regulations in the regulations, so they are not within the enforcement scope.