It took a long time in coming, but the ban against the sale of tobacco products to children is finally and irrevocably here. The Delhi government has prohibited shops from selling tobacco products to children under the age of 18 years.
In the wake of reports of an alarming increase in deaths due to smoking, the Delhi government has also made illegal, the setting up of shops or sale of cigarettes, bidis and other tobacco products within a 100 metres of a school, college or any other educational institution. Under the 'Delhi Anti-Smoking and Non-Smokers' Health Protection Act, any violation of the above may lead to a fine of upto rupees 1000 or an imprisonment upto 3 months, or both.
According to a recent report of the World Health Organisation (WHO), there has been a phenomenal rise in the incidence of smoking among women and children in recent years. The report warns that in another 20 years, over 1.5 million Indians will face fatal consequences due to the habit. Alarmingly, about 80,000 to 1 lakh youngsters worldwide are getting addicted to smoking every day (WHO).
In a related report, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) specified that India spends billions of rupees on the treatment of three major tobacco related diseases cancer, coronary artery disease and lung diseases. At present, 1 in 10 adults die due to tobacco use worldwide. The habit reportedly takes one life every 10 seconds. Over 250 million children worldwide die prematurely due to tobacco related diseases every year.
Though sceptics believe that the law can be easily violated by children lying about their age, the ban may be the first concrete step towards protecting the future generation from this malady.
December 31, 2000 (PTI)