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Ban on Public smoking but will it work. |
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- Chakravarthy Akella
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Thursday, 02 October 2008 |
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News Analysis: There has been a nationwide ban on public smoking. A step that is brought forward in order to curb the second hand smoke among the non smokers. This step will most likely not succeed since the definition of public place is very hazy in India.
The new rule can have a big impact on employees working in smoke free zones. This could mean that employees in MNCs will have a tough time finding a place to smoke, most of the offices being non-smoking areas and as they step out of building there would be public areas where they cant smoke. This will most likely encourage more people to break the law since there is no protection for smokers or alternate given for smokers. There will be one more excuse for the roadside policeman to demand some more cash (for his own pocket) if he sees a violation.
Dont get me wrong, a smoking ban in public places is perfectly correct but only if we had the infrastructure to support it. Or else it will become one of those laws that no one follows. Smoking in Railway compartments has aways been banned however it might be almost impossible for a person to travel in an unreserved compartment and not sit across someone who is smoking. The public smoking will be one such thing What will happen to the vendors who have been selling cigarette on the streets, they will surely take a hit. To think of an analogy, it is just like a coffee shop where you can have coffee however you cannot hang out.
Reports from several news agencies have stated the dissatisfaction amongst the smokers and and triumph amongst the people who have been fighting hard to get such a rule imposed. If the new rules in western counties is anything to go by then the days of smokers are not getting any better in the near future.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 09 October 2008 )
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