Backing for govt proposal to raise age for tobacco use

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 5

The government’s proposal to enhance the legal age for tobacco consumption in India from 18 to 21 years has attracted significant support. The Health Ministry has received several representations in favour of the recommendation recently put out on its website to invite public responses.

Preliminary studies of responses suggest a majority favour the proposed shift from 18 years to 21 years to delay people’s initiation into the deadly habit. Tobacco-related diseases kill nearly a million people in India annually.

The proposed raise when implemented will mean that tobacco and tobacco products won’t be sold to anyone less than 21 years of age.

Under the existing anti-tobacco law, The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA) 2003, tobacco can’t be sold to those below 18 years.

The law will have to be amended to implement the enhanced age, one of the three major amendments the Health Ministry has proposed to make the Act tougher. The other two are banning the sale of loose cigarettes and raising the penalty for public smoking from Rs 200 to Rs 1,000.

Health Secretary BP Sharma today admitted, “I was surprised to learn that people spend more on tobacco-related diseases every year than the combined public expenditure of the central and state governments on the entire health sector every year which is 1.4 per cent of the GDP.” The ministry said it was currently collating public responses to its draft recommendations on proposed changes to the COPTA Act and the Bill would be ready for the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

Dravid in anti-tobacco campaign

The Health Ministry with the Public Health Foundation of India and NGO Hriday today launched an anti-tobacco public advertisement campaign called “No tobacco for 21st century” with former cricketer Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador.