In a few weeks, Beijing will implement a city-wide ban on smoking in all indoor public spaces, such as restaurants and offices, as well as on tobacco advertising outdoors, including those on public transport vehicles and in most forms of media. If the initiative, agreed late last year by the Beijing municipal people's congress, is successful, China may impose a similar ban nationwide.

A significant decline in smoking would undoubtedly bring enormous public health benefits to China. But is it feasible?

With an estimated 300 million smokers, China represents one-third of the world's total smokers and accounts for an average of roughly 2,700 tobacco-related deaths a day. The costs of treating smoking-related diseases, not to mention the associated productivity losses, are considerable.