Multiple streams approach to tobacco control policymaking in the capital city of the world’s largest tobacco consuming country

The aim of this study was to analyse the policymaking process of Beijing tobacco control regulations based on a multiple streams framework to provide a reference for other cities, at the national level and for the international community to promote the development of tobacco control policy. Twenty-one documents related to tobacco control in Beijing were collected, nine informants were interviewed and the interview data were analysed by a thematic framework method. It was found that indicators, feedback and a focus event in the problem stream drew the attention of policymakers and the society for tobacco control. In 2011, Ying Songnian, a representative of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, put forward tobacco control legislation, which was just in time for the legislative reform of the Congress. The proposal was studied by the Congress, and a strategy of ‘social co-governance’ was founded. In the political stream, the government actively promoted tobacco control and social organizations extensively participated in it. In 2013, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the General Office of the State Council issued a notice on matters related to leading cadres taking the lead in banning smoking in public places, which opened a policy window for decision-makers who were hesitatant. The issue of tobacco control was successfully put on the policy agenda and contributed to the introduction of the Beijing Municipal Regulations on Smoking Control. Development of the factors in problem stream, policy stream and political stream promoted the setting up of the tobacco control policy agenda in Beijing. It is suggested that more cities should learn from the experience of Beijing, seize the opportunity of the ideological change of the ruling party, actively identify the problems, mobilize and advocate for representatives and introduce the concept of ‘social co-governance’ to promote tobacco control legislation.