Ban Sale of Loose Cigarettes, What does public say?

NEW DELHI: The Govt. is all set to ban sale of loose cigarettes in the country. Health minister J P Nadda told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply that the ministry has accepted the recommendations of the committee to ban the sale of loose cigarettes and increase the minimum age for sale of tobacco products to 25 years.

After the ban of smoking in public and increased excise on cigarettes by the BJP-led government, the expert panel formed by the health ministry to review Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 (COTPA), has recommended that the sale of loose cigarettes should be banned and that the minimum age for sale of tobacco products in the country should be increased to 25. The expert panel had also recommended increased penalties for smoking in public. The ban of smoking in public places was introduced 6-years ago but its implementation has been weak.

Smoking Kills

The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control states that countries “shall endeavor” to prohibit sale of loose cigarettes because it makes them more affordable for minors. India is a signatory to the convention.

The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is a supranational agreement “to protect present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke” by enacting a set of universal standards stating the dangers of tobacco and limiting its use in all forms worldwide.

The ministry has circulated a draft notice seeking comments from other ministries after which the draft proposal by the health ministry is likely to be taken up by the Cabinet.

This move is likely to affect the major tobacco companies such as ITC and Godfrey Phillips India whose shares were affected after the Health minister’s statement.

However, how happy is the public with this decision? One World News wanted to know whether this step taken up by the government would affect the consumers, for which it asked many smokers and non-smokers about their view on it and these are few responses that we collected:

Tushar Dham, a blogger, expressed that according to him this step would not make sense for the chain smokers because if at a point they used to smoke 3-4 or even 10-12 cig sticks a day, the intake would increase to 20 as they would have to buy entire packet.

Dipalie Mehta had a strong view about this step, “What happens when something is illegal? It sells at a costlier price. Similarly, if we were getting a single stick for Rs.10 then the cost is going to go up by two to five rupees but they would be available. There is a slight chance of reduction in smoking but I am skeptical, this is India after all, when has ‘the law’ ever been a problem for us?”

“Everything has its pros and cons. I think government didn’t get the point that they are trying to regulate something which is still within reach of the common man. Expensive or cheap, one or the pack it’s still available and this would indeed increase the intake of cigarettes. As far as the health is considered, people are wise enough to take decisions when to stop and when not to stop, it is an addiction and it won’t change in a day” says Azmaan Khan, UPSC student.

“It won’t help reduce the number of smokers as everyone who is addicted to it would start keeping stock of it. They might even start smoking more since a packet at room is consumed faster. The only possible good thing about packets is that a non-smoker deliberating on trying out smoking casually is not like to buy an entire packet,” says Abhijeet Kashyap, a MBA student and avid traveller.

Rotator Picture Credit: Robin Sinha.

Well, the decision has been taken and the responses for it are not so positive however if you have different views for it then do not forget to write to us at info@oneworldnews.in.