Using innovations to enable public monitoring and enhance enforcement of Beijing smoking control regulation

摘要

Background and challenges to implementationBeijingSmoking Control Regulation took effect in 2015. The regulation bans smoking inall indoor public places, work places and public transportations. Its uniquefeature is it encourages "social governance", enablingthe public to play active roles in its implementation. Theimplementation has been particularly challenging in small- or middle-sized restaurantsand office buildings. With over 21 million residents and only 2,000 enforcementofficers in Beijing, the public needs to be engaged to ensure successfulimplementation.Intervention or responseBeijingTobacco Control Association (BTCA) developed Beijing Tobacco Control Map toenable public monitoring and timely reporting of violations. This GPS-enabledinteractive map can be accessed from Beijing government's website and fromWeChat, the most popular Chinese social media platform. The public can reportviolations through WeChat. The reports result in lights in different colors ata specific location on the Map based on the number of the reports. Volunteers canuse the information to help the venue managers to comply and health inspectors canfollow the lights to do targeted inspections.Results and lessons learntBeijingTobacco Control Map is a highlight in implementing the Beijing Tobacco ControlRegulation. Using crowdsourcing technology and popular social media, thisinnovative approach provides a convenient channel for the public to participatein the implementation; it organizes volunteers to support venues incompliance and relieve enforcement officers´ workload; it serves as auseful tool for the enforcement officers to be more effective and efficient.Conclusions and key recommendationsBeijingTobacco Control Map can be used in other cities and countries to promoteeffective implementation of tobacco control laws. Crowdsourcing and innovativetechnologies should be explored to enhance tobacco control efforts and otherpublic health interventions. It can also strengthen the collaboration betweenthe government, the civil society and the private sector as in Beijing.