Protecting minors from tobacco products: public interest litigation enables enforcement in China

To reduce access to and uptake of tobacco products among minors, national laws, such as the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Minors (LPM) and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Tobacco Monopoly (LTM), stipulate that retail stores cannot sell tobacco products near primary or secondary schools, where local governments specify the exact distance between tobacco retailers and schools. Although such a location-based sales restriction could reduce youth exposure to tobacco,1 there remains a gap in the enforcement of this law in China. In this Advocacy in Action letter, we describe compliance with LPM and LTM provisions in one district of Beijing and the subsequent public interest litigation (PIL) case which can guide future tobacco control action in China and other countries. Sales to minors in Beijing’s Haidian District In the Haidian District of Beijing, local regulations stipulate...
Source: Tobacco Control - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Advocacy in action Source Type: research