Heated discussions among Nanjing residents of late that were the result of a lady being issued a ticket for drinking while riding the Nanjing Metro have got many asking fundamental questions, such as, “Why”, and, “What do other cities do?”.
近日，南京市民因一名女士乘坐南京地铁喝酒被开罚单一事引发热议，不少人提出“为什么”、“其他城市是怎么做的？”等基本问题。
At 20:45 on 17 July, Nanjing Metro staff found the female passenger drinking some bottled-fruit juice while they were doing their regular inspection of a train on Line 3.
7月17日20时45分，南京地铁工作人员在对3号线列车进行例行检查时，发现该女乘客正在喝瓶装果汁。
It is important to note at this stage that the lady did not receive a fine, rather a notice officially informing that her actions are against Nanjing Metro regulations.
值得注意的是，现阶段该女士并没有收到罚款，而是收到了一份正式通知，告知她的行为违反了南京地铁的规定。
According to the Nanjing Metro official website, those who are dissuaded from their eating or drinking on Metro trains and rectify their behaviour in a timely manner will not be punished.
据南京地铁官网介绍，对于在地铁列车上饮食行为被劝阻并及时整改的，不会受到处罚。
The website also states that there are different discretionary ranges in available punishments dependant on circumstances, from warnings to fines of between ¥20 and ¥50. This is where it gets tricky from a legal standpoint. Lawyers point out that as an organisation with the function of managing public affairs, there are legal restrictions as to the extent of its administrative-penalty power.
The website also states that there are different discretionary ranges in available punishments dependant on circumstances, from warnings to fines of between ¥20 and ¥50.从法律角度来看，这就是棘手的地方。 Lawyers point out that as an organisation with the function of managing public affairs, there are legal restrictions as to the extent of its administrative-penalty power.
It should also be noted that exceptions can be made. On 25 July, a reporter for The Paper called the Nanjing Metro and spoke with a member of staff who confirmed that passengers needing to take medicine or in physical discomfort may drink water or ask staff for assistance.
还应该指出的是，可以有例外。 7月25日，澎湃新闻记者致电南京地铁，与工作人员交谈后证实，需要吃药或身体不适的乘客可以喝水或向工作人员寻求帮助。
But what are the actual reasons for the regulations banning eating and drinking on the Nanjing Metro?
但南京地铁禁食规定的真正原因是什么？
Firstly, spilt drinks may cause passengers to slip and fall, therefore the regulations are a safety measure.
首先，溢出的饮料可能会导致乘客滑倒，因此该规定是一项安全措施。
In addition, some foods are very odorous, which in the confines of a congested metro carriage would be off putting to many, if not all, passengers.
此外，有些食物气味很大，在拥挤的地铁车厢内，许多乘客（如果不是全部）都会感到不舒服。
Lastly, from the standpoint of sanitation efficiency, the regulations are a time-saving measure. From the time a train arrives at its terminus, Metro sanitation workers have just 2 minutes to clean the train before it begins its return journey. The last thing they need is your KFC wrapper.
最后，从卫生效率的角度来看，这些规定是一项节省时间的措施。从列车到达终点站起，地铁环卫工人只有2分钟的时间对列车进行清洁，然后再开始返程。他们最不需要的就是你的肯德基包装纸。
How do other cities in China handle eating and drinking on their metro systems?
中国其他城市如何处理地铁系统内的饮食？
Looking to good-old Wuhan first, Article 38 (9) of the “Wuhan Rail Transit Management Regulations” that came into effect on 1 October, 2020, stipulates that eating on trains is prohibited. When a reporter called Wuhan Metro and asked if there was a prohibition on drinking water,, a member of staff merely reiterated the “no eating” rule.
先看好老武汉，2020年10月1日起施行的《武汉市轨道交通管理条例》第三十八条第（九）项规定，禁止在列车上饮食。当记者致电武汉地铁询问是否禁止饮水时，工作人员只是重申了“不准吃饭”的规定。
Up north, according to the “Beijing Rail Transit Passenger Regulations”, those riding the Beijing Subway should consciously maintain the environmental sanitation of stations and carriages, ride in an orderly fashion and not eat in train carriages. Exceptions are made for babies and those with medical conditions.
北上，根据《北京轨道交通乘客规定》，乘坐北京地铁的乘客应自觉维护车站和车厢环境卫生，有序乘车，不得在车厢内饮食。婴儿和患有健康问题的人除外。
Closer to home in Hangzhou, on 25 July, staff of the Hangzhou Metro advised that according to their regulations, passengers are not allowed to eat or drink on station platforms or in carriages.
言归正传，7月25日，杭州地铁工作人员告知，按照规定，乘客不得在站台、车厢内饮食。
But same staff member also said that in the actual implementation process, if a passenger just has a sip of water or eats a sweetie, generally no Metro staff will stop it. They may dissuade, but they have no right to a issue a fine.
但该工作人员也表示，在实际执行过程中，如果乘客只是喝了口水、吃了一个甜食，地铁工作人员一般不会阻止。他们可以劝阻，但无权处以罚款。
