WHEN WILL SMOKING BE BANNED IN INDIA ???????????

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Paris: A ban on smoking in public spaces went into effect on Thursday, a change that may alter the image of a country defined in part by its smoky cafes.


A patient smokes in front of the entrance of Strasbourg’s universitary hospital
France’s 15 million smokers are now banned from lighting up in workplaces, schools, airports, hospitals and other “closed and covered’’ public places. More than 175,000 agents are to enforce the ban, handing out fines of euro68 (Rs 3,903) for smokers and euro135 (Rs 7,740) for employers who look the other way.

In a year, the ban will extend to cafes and restaurants.

The French government said it will help smokers quit by reimbursing up to euro50 (US$65) per person per year for stop-smoking aids. It will also allow companies to invest in strictly regulated special smoking rooms inside the workplace.

Norms are changing across Europe, with Italy, Spain, Belgium, Britain and Ireland already enacting broad smoking bans.


Smoking Bans
* Ireland imposed the world’s first nationwide ban on smoking in the workplace in 2004.

* US states, including Florida and California, have had similar bans since 2003.

* In Nov 2004, Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban tobacco sales completely.

* Jan 2006: Spain bans smoking in offices, hospitals, schools and enclosed spaces. Belgium bans smoking in enclosed workplaces.

* March 2007: Puerto Rico confirms a ban on smoking in enclosed public places from March 2007. Uruguay bans smoking in public spaces, the stiffest restrictions are in Latin America.

* April 2007: A ban on smoking in all enclosed public places takes effect in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and England from July 2007.

* June 2007: Nepal announces ban smoking in public places.

* July 2007: Finland decides to ban smoking in restaurants, cafes, bars from June 2007.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.

banega nehin mera bharat mahan hai

Up goes the smoking ban

NEW DELHI: The railways have banished them from the platforms and 'No Smoking' boards are seen in government offices. As world observes May 31 as 'No Tobacco Day' there is little sign that Indians are willing to heed the warning.
"I would say that there is apparently some increase in smoking levels. I don't think bringing in legislation banning smoking has resulted in decrease in smoking level but strict enforcements of such bans are always welcome," says Dr. SK Jindal Professor and Head, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Based on a government order, the tobacco companies will soon introduce 'skull and cross bones' and other pictorial warnings on their packs. There is a ban on smoking in public and a recent court order in Delhi has also made it illegal to smoke while driving.
A visit to any cigarette stall in Delhi invites you with a banner prominently displaying that it is illegal to sell tobacco products to minors or those below the age of 18 but yet in spite all these, smoking has only become more prominent.
Even though, rules have been framed to curb the use of tobacco, market trends reveal a different picture. In India, the last one year has seen more than four new cigarette brands entering the Indian market along with the dominant players who have introduced new swanky cigarette packs to attract customers along with new flavours.
"The new brands are doing reasonably well. It will take some time for it to make great sales. The older ones continue to do well," says Tapan Kumar, running a cigarette stall in Connaught Place, Delhi.
He also truthfully adds that he sells tobacco products to everyone who comes to him irrespective of age. "Its difficult to ask for one's age everytime you interact with a customer," he says.
However, even as World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked for a complete ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces and public places thereby making them 100% smoke-free, experts suggest ban alone would not help.
WHO's theme for this year's World NO Tobacco Day (May 31) is 'Smoke Free Environments'. WHO is asking for a complete ban on smoking in all indoor workplaces and public places thereby making them 100% smoke-free. It states that second-hand smoke causes cancer, acute and chronic heart disease. It has also been linked linked to bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma. In children, it is linked to lower respiratory infections, asthma, middle-ear infections and sudden infant death syndrome.

According to a study conducted by Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 2005, bidi was the most common form of smoking, more so in the rural areas.
The mean number of cigarettes/bidis smoked per day was 14 and the mean age of starting smoking was 20.5 years. Increasing age, low socio-economic status and rural residence were important factors associated with smoking. Vigorous anti-tobacco measures under the tobacco control programmes yielded only a quit-rate of 10 per cent.
"I now go to various schools on their invitation to give presentation on harmful effects of smoking. I can see that smoking age is going down and even school authorities have realised this," says Dr PK Dal, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
Experts argue that complete banning and imposing fines is not the only solution. "Smoking has more to do with Psychology than anything else and hence banning or imposing fines won't help much. Its all in the mind," says Aruna Broota, Psychologist based in the capital.
She further adds, "A person smokes to gain diversion from something and he thinks he is getting a good feeling. He also thinks that he is very hep and is also getting a kick out of smoking. Some smoke because they think through this they are becoming powerful and hence defiles his close ones who ask him not to smoke. A smoker needs Psychotherapy."
In India, tobacco-related cancers account for half of all cancers among men and one fourth of all cancers among women in India, according to Cancer Patients Aids Asscociation (CPAA).
As per the WHO country profiles, CPAA has mentioned that tobacco usage is a major cause of death and illness all over the world with India being no exception.
The latest study conducted by WHO ahead of the World NO Tobacco Day, tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death globally, causing more than five million deaths a year. It further adds, tobacco use continues to expand most rapidly in the developing world, where currently half of tobacco related deaths occur. By 2030, if current trends continue, 8 out of every 10 tobacco-related deaths will be in the developing world.
"The complete smoking ban is not at all encouraging. I agree that one should not smoke when non-smokers and children are around but one cannot impose rules to prevent me from smoking at all. It would be against my freedom of choice," laments a young executive from the banking sector.
"People should be made aware of harmful effects of smoking. We should not forget that we are world leader when it comes to highest number of mouth cancer. People are not aware that smoking causes many other ailments other than just cancer," says Dr Dal.
He further adds, "Banning is just not possible because of the huge revenue that the government gets through taxes. Moreover, then we will have have to ban more products other than just tobacco. The main way out is to increase awareness and tax the tobacco companies heavily. Higher prices will become a deterrent for many."

Warnings in general


The surgeon general is an ethereal thing. He is a lot like the minister for animal husbandry, we know he exists but we're not sure what he's up to or why he exists.
We only know the surgeon general from the warnings he gives us on the back of cigarette packets, which don't seem to be working to begin with, given the increasing consumption of cigarettes and tobacco products.
I was wondering, how life would be if the surgeon general was more proactive or if his job had a larger scope. Under those circumstances, I suspect these are the kind of warnings he will be issuing, with substantial amounts of his own gyan thrown in. I offer some examples.

On cigarette packets

Are you freaking illiterate or what? How many times do I have to tell you that smoking kills? What kind of indicator do you want? Would it help if the guy selling you cigarettes had his blackened lungs hanging from his belt? You stop smoking now or I will come there personally and whack you!
On music

Himesh Reshammiya is injurious to your health. Pulling your hair out everytime you hear a remix will not make it stop, it will only make you bald. Everybody cannot sound like R D Burman. Please stop trying, you are making a fool of yourself. Your mehbooba growl sounds like flatulence.

On Bollywood

Abhishek, Sunil Shetty and Emraan Hashmi can carry off stubble. You look like a wanted criminal. Please shave.
A hero jumping off a building is actually a trained stuntman jumping onto a big air bag. Please don't try to imitate him, you will either make an ass of yourself or die, maybe both.
Just because Salman Khan can patao any girl he wants, doesn't mean you can. Control yourself, aur aukaad mein rehna.

Complaints about Bombay

Once you're done complaining about Bombay, why don't you shift to Tehran, why don't you return to your native village, and take the Bachchans with you.
Self service is best service. The best way to fill up a pothole is to lie down in it. Please do the needful.

On weight

Not only are you unhealthy, you are taking up too much space in an already crowded city. Lose weight now.
You are not rich, not handsome, not powerful, at least be thin.
Out of the desired attractive features of thin, rich, handsome, fair, powerful and tall, the easiest to achieve is thinness. Try it.

On stockmarket

The entire stockmarket awaits with bated breath for you to invest today so it can fall tomorrow.
Your broker makes his brokerage commission whether you buy or sell, whether you make money or lose it. Remember that when you trade.
In the long term the market goes up, in the short term your blood pressure does. Buy long term, sleep well.

Back to cigarettes

If you are going to insist on smoking, at least don't smoke smuggled foreign cigarettes. Not only is it injurious to your health but you are also encouraging illegal activities, the government makes no tax revenue and local cigarette companies lose revenue and profits. If you are going to die from smoking anyway, at least die a patriot.

__________________
I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.

If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

Never argue with a fool. People might not know the difference.

When you're right, no one remembers. When you're wrong, no one forgets.