Let's Say NO to Smoking!

The BAN on lighting up rolled tobacco or Cigarettes in public places came into effect from Thursday (2nd October), with hotels, restaurants, pubs, offices and even the international airports becoming out of bound for smokers. The ban will also cover pubs as well as private offices and public places like bus stops. Union Health Ministry issued a notification for the ban under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution), Act 2003. The Ban has got a mixed response, with some calling it restraint to their personal freedom while few appreciating the step taken by the Health ministry! Stats show that virtually no one starts smoking as an adult. Ninety percent of all the smokers take their first puff in their teens!!

Your views on the ban on Smoking in public places: Perfectly fine. There are loads of people who don't smoke when compared to those who do. With this rule, specific zones will be identified for smokers and this will facilitate a cleaner environment. But the main hurdle is to abide by the rule.

Is this a restraint on the personal freedom of an individual: Not at all. Every individual is free to smoke, and nobody is stopping them from smoking. A hard core smoker will surely find a place to smoke.

Passive smoking kills more people than active smoking, what do you have to say: Very true. I smoke once in a while, but Barkha hates smoking. So I make it a point not to smoke when she is around. When I can be careful for my wife's sake, then I can surely be careful for many others too.

Any message that you would want to give: I am a smoker myself, so I cannot give out any message. But I would say that we need to keep our surrounding clean and respect others who do not smoke.