Tobacco usage and laws on it in India

Tomorrow is World No Tobacco Day.

In the wake of the ill effects of tobacco, No Tobacco Day is marked on May 31 each year across the globe.

The day is intended to spread awareness on the usage of tobacco and the risks associated with it.

In this regard, it is relevant to know the usage of tobacco in India and various laws that are being made against its usage.

Here are some important facts about tobacco use in India:

• The usage of tobacco has been reduced in 2015 – 16 than the previous decade. Yet, India is the second largest consumer and producer of tobacco.
• North-east states especially in Mizoram, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Assam consume the highest tobacco in the country.
• Mizoram tops the tobacco users list with 80.4% men and 59.2% women in the age group of 15 to 49 years of age.
• Millions of Indians are vulnerable to chronic diseases like cancer, lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases due to tobacco usage.
• People in rural areas are consuming more tobacco than in urban areas.
• More than half of the people do not attempt to quit tobacco use.
• 50% of cancers in India and 90% of mouth cancers are caused due to tobacco. Tobacco chewing is another common cause of oral cancer.

Indian government has made several laws to ban tobacco.

Here are some important laws or attempts of government on tobacco ban:

• Sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of any education institution is prohibited.
• Smoking in public places is banned.
• Pictorial warnings on tobacco products is mandatory.
• Anti-tobacco advertisements are being aired in the movie theaters and Televisions before movie begins.
• Displaying a disclaimer is mandatory for theatres and television channels whenever smoking scenes are shown in the movie.

Photo by Debora Cartagena, USCDCP on Pixnio (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Reference: https://pixnio.com/objects/cigarettes/opened-pack-of-cigarettes-with-its-side-panel-health-warning-to-would-be-smokers