The Swiss have done it: they've kicked the filthy habit. As a fellow Swiss expat, I'm happy to report that all Swiss trains are non-smoking. And the reason why I'm never taking any train in China other than HSR CRH trains is that smoking is absolutely banned on express trains — and the same is true on the Subway.

The tragedy here is that China is lighting up, more and more. I see young folks of both genders — increasingly ladies — who have decided to "act chic" and nix their kids' chances of a healthy start in life — by smoking.

Here's a hint at why smoking is this bad:

• A cigarette contains cadmium. Ask yourself: do you gulp down batteries whole? No? Okkie — so why are you smoking?

• Methane — that's also in cigs. Flatulence (aka farts) already are a gruesome smell, and the worse thing is that methane is present in sewer gas. Filthy stuff. Why smoke?

• Do you like the idea of making toilet cleaner part of your body? Sorry folks, ammonia — which is also present in cigs — becomes part of you when you light up.

• Oh and there's also paint. Plus, smoking can get pretty fatal — you in essence lift off — there's methanol. Ow.

• Worst thing: Cigarette contains arsenic. That's poison. Fatal stuff.

Oh and by the way, city establishments should probably get a clue. The only reason why they're not banning it is because they are greedy capitalists. Honest. Places that don't allow folks to smoke are getting less and less customers. And your Beijingologist has also been witness to folks that smoke in areas specifically marked "No Smoking". The worst thing about those who flaunt the law? You're breathing in those toxic fumes, like it or not. And those who smoke are likely to get worse tempers, use even more foul language, and — for a lack of a better word — "stuff like that".

Get over it: one of these days, Beijing is going to ban smoking in public places. Dot. Period. We can't wait until the day the cigarette is treated on the same terms as crack, marijuana and that kind of poisonous stuff.

As George Carlin would say: It's Bad For Ya...