02 October 2008
A public ban on smoking tobacco comes into force in India today, according to Reuters. The country’s 240 million tobacco users will face a fine of 200 rupees ($4.50) if they smoke in public places including offices, restaurants, railway stations and bars.
India is one of the heaviest smoking nations in the world, both in absolute and per capita terms, and has a considerable problem with tobacco-related illness and deaths, according to media reports. Estimates suggest that 900,000 people die each year as a direct result of smoking and hundreds of thousands more are thought to die from the effects of passive smoking. With cigarette sales growing by 5-6 per cent a year, deaths are predicted to rise to 1 million.
The Indian Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss told the BBC: “From 2 October India is going to go smoke-free in all public places. The aim is to discourage the smokers, to make them quit or reduce smoking. Also all non-smoking employees have a right to a 100 per cent smoke-free atmosphere. The perils of passive smoking are equally bad.”
Ramadoss acknowledged the likelihood of “teething problems.” “I expect there will be problems, but it will be done. I appeal to the people to please do self-policing and abide by the act.”
But scepticism about the ability of the authorities to enforce the ban is widespread. Efforts to ban public spitting and urination have both met with very limited success.
Legislation to forbid smoking in public places was passed in 2003 with the ban projected to come into force in 2004, but has suffered a series of delays.
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