India survey shows 92% back smoke-free public spaces

Oct.30.2024
India survey shows 92% back smoke-free public spaces
India survey shows 92% support smoke-free zones in public spaces, including airports and upscale restaurants, prompting the government to consider legal revisions in response to public demand.

A major survey conducted by Smoke-Free India with over 65,000 respondents revealed that 92% of Indians support the implementation of smoke-free areas in public places, including airports and upscale restaurants, according to an October 29 Oneindia report.

 

Dr. Uma Kumar, Head of the Department of Rheumatology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, pointed out important shortcomings in current public health policy.

 

She noted that while the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) of 2003 bans smoking in public places, it still allows designated smoking areas in airports, hotels with more than thirty rooms, and restaurants with more than thirty seats. Although railway stations are completely smoke-free, 97% of survey respondents would like to see airports go completely smoke-free.

 

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has taken note of the public's opposition to smoking areas and is considering revising COTPA to completely eliminate these zones.
 

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