BENGALURU: With the World Anti-Tobacco Day coming up on May 31, here’s a look at the challenges the State Health Department is struggling with to reduce the impact of this menace. Twenty eight per cent of the state is habituated to consuming
tobacco products. In Karnataka, around 3.42 lakh people were booked for smoking in public places in three years and over Rs 4.64 crore has been levied across the state on offenders as penalty.
Though tobacco consumption in state is lower than the national average of 35 per cent, a survey conducted by the Union Health Ministry showed that the average age of a person using tobacco in the state is less than 19 years.
New packaging and guidance
“We have been directed by the Union Health Ministry to check the pictorial warnings on cigarette and other tobacco products,” an official saidAccording to the new guidelines, it should be 85 per cent pictorial warning, including 65 per cent visuals and 20 per cent warning messages,” an official said.
There are two types of messages “Smoking causes throat cancer” and for tobacco products, it will be “Tobacco causes mouth cancer”.
“We are hoping that the number of smokers and tobacco users will reduce with the new packaging,” the official added.
Under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, the State Health Department officials, with the help of local police and others, have booked cases against 3,07,946 for smoking in public places. “Under Section four of COTPA, a sum of Rs 200 will be levied against offenders for smoking in public places,” Joint Director of the department Dr Raghunandan said.
Challenge of e-cigarettes
The state department is now facing an additional challenge with e-cigarettes that have gained a foothold in the market., While e-cigarettes have nicotine, a person smoking one cannot be booked under COPTA as it does not contain tobacco. “We have written a letter to the Union Health Ministry, requesting an amendment of the law to include e-cigarette cases within its ambit,” a senior official said.
Below 18 years
According to the survey conducted last year, in the state a major chunk of consumers of tobacco is children below 18 years of age. Under section 6 (a) of COPTA, it is an offence to sell products to kids below this age. Since 2013 7,332 cases have been booked against retailers. “The number does not show the extent of the problem, as individuals in this age group are sensitive and fall victim to addiction,” said an officer.
New Rules
The Pictorial Warning Rules, 2014, have been enacted under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 and are enforceable from April 1 this year. These new rules apply to all kinds of tobacco products produced, supplied or distributed in India and mandate depiction of specified health warnings on both sides of the tobacco product packages, covering 85 per cent of the principal display area.