Shanghai looks to control public smoking in the remainder of 2011

SHANGHAI - Controlling smoking in public venues, especially places dedicated to culture and entertainment, will be a goal of the Shanghai government's in the next half of 2011.

That's according to the results, released on Thursday, of an anti-smoking inspection that attempted to gauge the success of the city's work to control smoking in the first half of the year.

According to Shanghai's first anti-smoking law, which came into effect in March 2010, 16 types of public venues - including hospitals, schools, bars, restaurants and hotels - are required to establish designated non-smoking areas and put up signs prohibiting smoking.