Download Smoked The Central government has accepted three important

Smoked
The Central government has accepted three important
recommendations made by an experts’ panel on curbing tobacco
use in this country. These are: ban on sale of loose cigarettes,
increasing the minimum legal age for consumption of tobacco
products, increasing the fine or penalty amounts for violation of
certain provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products
Act, 2003, and making such offences cognizable. Among the
three proposals, the ban on the sale of loose cigarettes is
considered crucial to deter smoking among teens while the other
two are aimed at further boosting earlier efforts to cut smoking
habit among adults.
The World Health Organization had earlier recommended a ban
on sale of loose cigarettes to its member countries in its war
against tobacco. The Indian government appears to have now
woken up to this suggestion after very many years. Among many
reasons for the delay in decision-making could be the concern for
loss of revenue of tobacco giants, who would have done their bit
to keep the pressure on the government. A lot of smokers buy
loose cigarettes throughout the length and breadth of this
country from small-time vendors. Instead of carrying a pack and
a matchbox, smokers find it convenient to go to a retailer to get
their nicotine fix. For many, it is a simple pleasure, despite its
deadly effects on health. This trend will hopefully change, once
the state governments give their nod to the new set of norms and
implement it in good earnest.
This ban might act as a deterrent to casual smokers since they
would now be forced to buy a full pack of 10 cigarettes.
Teenagers who are generally initiated into the habit by their
peers at high school or college level might rethink because of
pocket money issues, although sharing is generally translated as
caring at college level. The most important aspect of any new act
is its implementation. That is where India goes wrong many a
time. There are enough stringent laws in this country which are
poorly implemented. Fear is, the tobacco case might go the same
way. It is difficult to keep an eye on lakhs of retailers selling
cigarettes. Even if some sections are made cognizable, how it can
be enforced in a vast country like India is a big question. On the
other hand, loose cigarette sales can well turn out to be another
source of income for the police who are generally given the
responsibility of implementing anti-smoking laws and catching
offenders. The implementation of ban on sale of 'Gutkas'
(chewing tobacco) in Orissa is a case in point.
The success of other two proposals – increasing the minimum age
for buying cigarettes from 18 to 25 and stiff penalties for smoking
in public – again do not seem practical from the implementation
point of view. One can’t expect shopkeepers to check ID cards of
buyers before selling cigarettes to them. They would be eager for
sales, not law enforcement. Nor would smokers carry and
willingly present age proof before buying a pack of cigarettes.
Though public smoking has come down considerably in towns and
cities, rural areas are out of bounds because there is no proper
implementing authority.
That is the biggest impediment to the success of anti-tobacco
campaigns in the country. Lax enforcement of laws often leads to
black-marketing and proliferation of fakes as it is happening in
the case of prohibition of liquor in some states. And, there is a
possibility of tobacco companies resorting to ingenuous ways for
marketing their products. They can very well introduce small
packs with fewer cigarettes.
When we look at it objectively, the three-pronged strategy to win
war against tobacco might not be very effective. But it is a good
start and sends a strong message. Finally though, it is up to the
smokers. No amount of penalty can substitute the fear of death.
And if someone is already on a death wish, little else can instill
fear. In those cases, better to let the buckets roll.