[Intl-tobacco] India Ban On Smoking In Public Places Takes Effect

[robert.weissman@essentialinformation.org]

> India Ban On Smoking In Public Places Takes Effect Sat
>
> DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
> April 30, 2004 7:32 a.m.
>
> MUMBAI (AP)--A nationwide ban on smoking in public places takes effect
in India on Saturday, health officials said.
>
> The prohibition requires cigarettes to be snuffed out in restaurants,
bars and discos, public auditoriums, playgrounds and parks across India.
>
> "The ban is largely in the interest of youngsters because we need to
protect the future generation," Digvijay Khandvilkar, health minister of
India's western Maharashtra state, said Friday. "Smoking causes throat
cancer and trouble with breathing and so many other diseases."
>
> Violators of the ban face fines of 200 rupees ($1=INR44.49).
>
> While smoking is barred in public places throughout India effective
Saturday, it is up to each of the 29 state governments to decide when to
impose bans on tobacco advertising - also outlawed under the act.
>
> Tobacco advertisers could be imprisoned for up to three years or fined
INR100,000 once India's states put the law into effect.
>
> According to the most recent federal survey, 112 million people smoked
tobacco in India in 1996, while 96 million used tobacco products such as
chewing tobacco.
>
> In Mumbai - India's financial and entertainment capital - some residents
said they would continue lighting up in public.
>
> "We haven't heard of this ban at all. It will be very difficult to
implement and we may lose patrons," said Dominic D'mello, manager of a
popular suburban bar and restaurant.
>
> "How can they ban smoking even in bars? That just doesn't make sense,"
said Umang Khosla, a management executive who smokes 10 cigarettes a
day.
>
> Navin Kumar, deputy health minister for Maharashtra state, where Mumbai
is the capital, said hotels with more than 30 rooms were entitled to
earmark an area as a smoking zone, but smaller hotels and restaurants
wouldn't be allowed to have smoking areas inside.
>
> Laws against public health and comfort violations - such as littering
streets or loud music at night - are rarely enforced in India.
>
> -Edited by Genevieve I. Soledad