Sonu, a 9-year-old boy, returns home from school to have lunch and then heads to his father’s general store. While at the shop, he regularly observes his father selling tobacco products. One day, a teenage student from his school visits the shop to purchase cigarettes, and to Sonu’s dismay, his father sells them to the teenager. Sonu, feeling upset, confronts his father, questioning why he would sell such harmful products to students when he often warns his own children about the dangers of tobacco. Sonu’s words deeply affected his father, prompting him to refuse the sale of cigarettes to the teenager and instead talking to him about the harmful effects of tobacco and other addictive substances.

Today, Sonu’s father has realized this truth. However, the question remains: how many shopkeepers and parents across our country are aware of the devastating effects of tobacco addiction? Do they understand that it is a perilous path leading to fatal diseases?

In our country, numerous teenagers and young adults are falling prey to this addiction. Smoking cigarettes and beedis has become a commonplace trend, especially in schools and colleges in metropolitan cities, often as a means to showcase status. According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2019 report, one in every five children in India is now consuming tobacco. Shockingly, even children below the age of 10 are indulging in these harmful substances.

Health Harms of Tobacco consumption:

It’s a given fact that tobacco is harmful for all and if one gets addicted from an early age the severity of the complications increases further.

Most cases of head, neck, oesophagus and lung cancers are due to consumption of tobacco or tobacco related products. According to World Health Organisation, Around one-third of deaths from cancer are due to tobacco use. Besides affecting the lungs, use of tobacco or tobacco related products can also cause cancer of bladder and kidneys. 

Tobacco consumption not only causes cancer but it is also a major risk factor for Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD), Chronic Lung Diseases, Stroke, Diabetes, Infertility, Blindness and Tuberculosis (TB). Possibilities of lung cancer in male smokers is 23 times more than non-smokers and in females it is 13 times more. As per data of GYTS-4 (Global Youth Tobacco Survey), 8.5% students of age 13-15 years use tobacco in one or other form in India while 18.1% students of this age have tried tobacco products.  Almost 70% of students who smoke cigarettes bought it from pan shop/vendors which is a matter of concern. Children must be protected from industry tactics as they are future of our nation.

Laws and Regulations

When discussing legislation, the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) was introduced in 2003 as the primary law concerning tobacco control. Surprisingly, there have been no amendments made to this law in the past two decades. Despite government enforcement, there is still a need for additional provisions to regulate the sale of tobacco to minors. One proposed measure is to raise the minimum age for selling such products from 18 to 21 years.

Necessity of Strengthening Existing Laws

In light of the well-being of children and adolescents, it is imperative to reinforce existing laws. Take, for instance, the long-overdue Motor Vehicles Act on road safety, which has recently been amended to incorporate provisions aligned with current needs for safer roads. This amendment has proven effective in curbing road accidents. Similarly, there is a pressing need to rejuvenate tobacco control policies by bolstering existing laws. By implementing stringent tobacco control measures, including selling of tobacco products to minors and advertising restrictions, India can mitigate the impact of tobacco. 

By Ekta Purohit

Consumer VOICE in collaboration with Rajkot Saher Jilla Grahak Suraksha Mnadal, Rajkot organized World No Tobacco Day by holding a workshop followed by media interaction on 31st May 2023 at Conference Hall, government Circuit House, Rajkot, Gujarat. 

The workshop was attended by more than 70 people including doctors from Cancer Hospitals, AIIMS, District Hospital, Students, NGOs representatives, District Chief Health Officer, Chief Health Officer, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Media Persons and Victims & Survivors.

Dr. R. S. Trivedi, Hon’ble Chief Medical Officer, Rajkot Government Medical College, Rajkot;  Dr. Khyatiben Vasavada, Hon’ble Medical Director, Rajkot Cancer Society. Rajkot, Gujarat; Dr. Gautam Makadia, MD-Oncologist, Shree  Jalaram Gurukul Sarvajanik Hospital Rajkot,  Gujarat; Dr. Jeet Mehta, Hon’ble Oncologist, Saurashtra  Cancer Care & Research Centre, Government of  Gujarat  Shri Pankajbhai Rathod, Former Chief Health Officer, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Rajkot,  Gujarat Shri Jayeshbahi Vakani, Hon’ble Chief Health  Officer, Rajkot Municipal Corporation, Rajkot,  Gujarat, Shri Hemant Kumar Upadhyay from Consumer VOICE, New  Delhi attended the workshop among others.

All participants took oath not to consume tobacco followed by media interaction. To garner the media support a press release was also disseminated among regional media. There was also a Health Camp organised by Jalaram Raghukul Sarvjanik Hospital for the early detection of oral cancer.

For media coverage, click here