satyam

Stubbed out for life?

In the wake of London banning smoking in public on July 1, Indian Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss wants to make India a tobacco-free nation too.

Smoking kills, but no smoking is killing smoke addicts in the city, believes Ramadoss. With his statement, the government will soon take stringent measures against smoking at all public places — bars, restaurants, offices and hotels or any place where there is an employee.

Even smoking at home in the presence of your spouse or domestic help might invite action from the government!

Amitabh Bachchan is possibly the most famous non-smoker in the world and his son Abhishek, too, has stubbed out the nicotine stick (or Cuban cigar) in favour of a healthier lifestyle.

India is the third-largest producer of tobacco leaves in the world, after China and Brazil. Ninety-five billion cigarettes and 850 billion beedis are produced in India every year giving rise to millions of cancer patients.

Ramadoss’s statement has generated a lot of heat amongst smokers and non-smokers across the city. Presenting some of the reactions:

Abhishek Bachchan, Actor

If you tell the youth today that cigarettes are bad, that’s not enough. They need an explanation. My eight-year-old niece has an opinion on things. She wants to know why. For that matter, me too. I just won’t take your word for it. There should be restrictions in moderation otherwise we wouldn’t be a democracy or a free world. I can understand banning smoking in public places — it’s justifiable, but it’s pushing it a bit too far by not allowing one to smoke in one’s house or take consent for the same from people around you.