Celebrities who have been convicted of drug-related offenses could be banned from appearing in television and film productions for at least three years, if a draft regulation submitted to the Shanghai People's Congress on Wednesday is made into law.
The draft regulation also designates fines for those who work with such celebrities. Companies that hire them to appear on TV, radio, film and commercials would face a fine of up to 200,000 yuan ($31,300), while the firms that broadcast the shows would face fines of up to 1 million yuan under the draft.
In addition to serving the ban, offenders would have to prove that they are no longer taking drugs in order to return to the screen and airwaves, according to congress deputy Shen Zhixian.
"Actors and celebrities who take drugs have a negative impact on society," said Shen.
Chinese authorities have been increasing efforts to crack down on what they see as a rising trend of drug offenses involving celebrities. Jaycee Chan, son of Jackie Chan, was sentenced to six months in prison last year in Beijing for a drug-related crime, despite not being convicted of personally taking drugs.
The proposed legislation, which is still being evaluated by lawmakers before being approved, follows the publication of a recommendation made last year by the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television that said that any celebrity convicted of an offense involving drugs, as well as gambling and prostitution, should be banned from film and TV productions.
The Shanghai People's Congress also proposed on Wednesday that professional drivers convicted of a drug-related crime should lose their license as a punishment.
If the proposal passes, offenders would be fined up to 5,000 yuan, while the companies that recruit them could be charged as much as 100,000 yuan.
Under the same proposal, courier firms convicted of knowingly or unknowingly delivering parcels containing illegal narcotics would be fined as much as 50,000 yuan.