A national campaign has been launched on the Chinese mainland to prevent so-called "new types of drugs" from harming people who visit places of entertainment.

Many measures will be stressed in the campaign, which runs from September to November, to contain the rapid spreading of the new drugs, said a statement by the Ministry of Public Security.

The ministry is one of six departments under the central government that have jointly launched the campaign.

In recent years, the problem of the selling and usage of these new types of drugs, such as "ice" and ecstasy, is increasingly evident in many entertainment venues, said the statement.

Many criminals sell drugs to customers, especially youngsters, in places like disco halls, bars, and other singing and dancing venues.

Moreover, many owners of these places try to shelter people who sell or take drugs for the sake of profit, added the statement.

Widespread public education activities, including general information publicity and training for entertainment venue staff members, will be carried out to raise people's awareness of drugs.

Culture management and public security authorities at various levels will gradually develop a system which can record the illegal activities going on in entertainment venues, and give warnings to the operators.

In seven cities including Beijing, Dalian, Wuhan and Guangzhou, a total of 10,000 entertainment venues will be urged to promise they will be clean of various drugs.

Media and residents are encouraged to report drugs cases through news release, tip-off calls or e-mails. Those who perform well will be awarded.

In addition, officials will be punished if drug problems persist in areas under their control.

Official statistics show that about 3.5 tons of "ice" have been caught by police in 2004 on the mainland, which means that while the country has done a lot work in containing drugs, the challenge is considerable.

Rating system

The Guangdong Provincial Department of Public Security has introduced a rating system to help clarify the management of the myriad of entertainment venues.

According to the system, all the entertainment venues, including karaoke bars, disco halls, nightclubs and cinemas, have been divided into three categories indicating levels of concern.

Places which are suspected to be involved in prostitution, gambling and drugs-related events will be investigated.

The Guangdong Provincial Department of Public Security will not allow any new entertainment venues that have been invested by triad members from overseas nations and regions, according to a report in the Guangzhou-based Information Times yesterday.

In a special campaign launched last year to fight prostitution, gambling and drug-related events, as many as 10,670 entertainment venues were inspected for prostitution and illegal sexual services in the province.

(China Daily September 14, 2005)