Tobacco control posters will be on Beijing Subway Line

Trains on Beijings' Subway Line 4 will be displayed with tobacco control posters, as part of the smoke-free campaign by the World Health Organization and just ahead of the June 1 implementation of the strictest tobacco control regulation in Beijing.

The campaign posters will be displayed on all Line 4 trains for the next eight weeks starting Saturday, through a partnership between the WHO China Office and Beijing MTR Corporation, WHO China Office said on Friday.

"Every day, tens of millions of people travel on Beijing's subway network – 1.6 million people on Line 4 alone. We are delighted that, every day for the next 8 weeks, those commuters will be seeing the #RUFREE campaign, in support of Beijing's new smoke-free law," said Dr Bernhard Schwartländer, WHO Representative in China.

WHO launched #RUFREE – meaning, 'Are you smoke-free? And do you support smoke-free environments?' – last month on Weibo. The campaign includes posters featuring several high- profile Chinese celebrities voicing their support for stronger tobacco control policies.

Beginning Monday, when the new tobacco control regulation takes effect in Beijing, all indoor public places – including restaurants, bars, hotels, and offices – in Beijing will be required by law to be 100% smoke-free. Some outdoor spaces at public places, such as kindergartens, primary and middle schools, historical and cultural sites, and maternal and child health facilities, will also be required to be 100% smoke-free. Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship in Beijing will also be banned.

Amanda Yang, spokeswoman of Beijing MTR Co, said the company will intensify inspections against smoking on all three subways the company operates.

"We will further increase tobacco control publicity in the subway stations, such as putting up posters and publicity through broadcasting," she said.

Liu Geng, a manger for the company, said although smoking is banned in subways, smoking could still be seen occasionally on subway platforms and in toilets.

"Most people will stop smoking there after we advise them to stop," he said.