The Beijing's People's Congress recommendation to ban eating and drinking on subway trains was met with mixed reactions from different groups.
The Urban Construction and Environment Protection Committee of the People's Congress of Beijing said on Thursday that eating and drinking as well as begging for alms and distributing fliers should not be allowed in subway carriages. The committee recommended a fine of not more than 1,000 yuan ($160) for any violation.
The committee submitted opinions on the draft of the proposal they had made to improve safety in Beijing's subway on Thursday to the city's legislature.
According to Yang Hong an official of Beijing's Legal Affairs Office, eating and drinking in subway trains do not have a direct effect on the safety of subway operations.
If the proposed prohibition becomes a law, she added, a large number of enforcement personnel will be needed to ensure strict compliance.
Guo Pujin, director of the Urban Construction and Environment Protection Committee however is pushing for the implementation of the ban saying that eating and drinking can lead to friction or disputes between subway commuters and even between the passengers and the subway operators especially if the food or drink gets spilled or has an unsavory smell.
Li Wenjie, an official with Beijing Subway Line 8 supports Guo's point saying that reports of accidents have been brought to her attention involving passengers who slipped and fell either in the carriages or stations because they stepped on food or drinks spilled on the floor.
There have also been incidents of brawls because a passenger stained the clothes of a fellow passenger or spilled hot drink or food on other passengers, Li said.
Li however agrees with Yang that additional personnel have to be assigned to enforce the ban because it will not be possible for the stewards to check on passengers since their main focus is driving the train.
Chen Haibo, who regularly takes the subway supports the proposed ban since according to him food and drinks brought inside the carriages worsens the air quality in the already stuffy carriages. He however doubts that the ban will be effectively implemented because he thinks there will be passengers who would still insist that it is their right to eat and drink anywhere they like including inside the carriages.