‘India needs to rethink its tobacco laws’
August 29, 2023 by sundayguardianlive.com
‘India needs to rethink its tobacco laws’
A seasoned lawmaker has said India needs to seriously take a relook at its tobacco laws, and those relating to e-cigarettes and heated tobacco because the health ministry’s ban on e-cigarettes is a missed public health opportunity. MV Rajeev Gowda, vice-chairperson, State Institute for Transformation of Karnataka and former Rajya Sabha member strongly feels e-cigarettes could have been an option to help smokers wean themselves off tobacco in India, the world’s second largest consumer of tobacco.
8.10% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 80.5 million current smokers in India 14.40% of men are current smokers but only 1.40% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR