A smoking ban in Beijing comes into force today in the Chinese capital’s, restaurants, offices and on public transport .<br /><br /> Health activists have pushed for years for stronger restrictions in a country which is the world’s largest tobacco consumer.<br /><br /> Under the new rules smokers will be fined and also named and shamed on a government website.<br /><br /> The selling of cigarettes will also no longer be allowed in shops within 100 metres of primary schools.<br /><br /> Smoking is a major health crisis in China where more than 300 million smokers have made it part of every day life and millions more are exposed to secondhand smoke.<br /><br /> If the ban proves effective it could be rolled out across the country.
