A TOTAL of 18 people were caught smoking in bars and KTVs during the fourth round of anti-smoking raids targeting entertainment and leisure venues in the city, sznews.com reported.

On Tuesday evening, law enforcement officers carried out spot checks at entertainment and leisure venues in Longhua District, in the last stop of the fourth round of the citywide smoking ban raids.

Four people were found smoking in bars and KTVs Tuesday evening, and each was fined 50 yuan (US$7.20), according to the news report.

At about 8:15 p.m., officers arrived at a KTV called Yihao Gongguan in Longhua District. The law enforcement team inspected the place and noticed the absence of “no smoking” signs in the corridor.

Moreover, the KTV had set up smoking areas in the staircases on the second and third floors. “We have no choice. Nine out of 10 customers who come here like to smoke,” the person in charge of the KTV was quoted as saying.

The person said they set up the smoking areas in the staircases in order to prevent customers from smoking in the private rooms. When asked if he knew that it was illegal to set up smoking areas in staircases, the person said he was not sure but agreed to immediately remove the two smoking areas.

Subsequently, the law enforcement team inspected another entertainment venue called Gaodiao Chunk, where they caught a Korean man smoking.

“Our department has a gathering today. He couldn’t help smoking two cigarettes as everyone is happy and likes the vibe here,” the Korean man’s friend was quoted as saying.

The Korean man’s friend added that they didn’t know smoking had been banned in that place. On the other hand, the waiters hadn’t warned them when they started smoking, which made them think it was OK to smoke there.

The fourth round of anti-smoking raids started in Futian District on Nov. 12 and inspected 14 entertainment and leisure venues in five districts. Ten venues received warnings from the authority and 18 people were fined.

According to Zhuang Runsen, deputy head of Shenzhen Tobacco Control Association, the punishment for smoking in public places is still too lenient and the fine is too small.

Additionally, further discussion is necessary to amend the current tobacco control regulations according to the actual situation in the future, said Zhuang. (Zhang Yu)