Maldives begins ‘generational ban’ on smoking

• The Maldives government began implementing a smoking ban on anyone born after January 2007.

• At present, it is the only nation with a generational prohibition on tobacco.

• Under the new provision, individuals born on or after January 1, 2007 are prohibited from purchasing, using, or being sold tobacco products within the country.

• The ban applies to all forms of tobacco, and retailers are required to verify age prior to sale.

• The move came into effect on November 1.

• It was initiated by President Mohamed Muizzu earlier this year and will protect public health and promote a tobacco-free generation, the health ministry said.

• The measure also applies to visitors to the nation.

Plans for tobacco ban in other countries

• In 2019, the UK government announced its ambition for England to become ‘smoke-free’ by 2030. Britain is preparing legislation as a measure to create a smoke-free generation, phasing out the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone aged 15 or younger.

• In December 2022, New Zealand passed into law a unique plan to phase out tobacco smoking by prohibiting the sale of tobacco to anyone born after January 1, 2009. However, relevant provisions introducing this change were repealed before they could come into force. 

Harmful effects of tobacco

• An estimated 1.2 billion people worldwide use tobacco products.

• Nicotine contained in tobacco is highly addictive and tobacco use is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, over 20 different types or sub-types of cancer, and many other debilitating health conditions. 

• Every year, more than 7 million people die from tobacco use. 

• Most tobacco-related deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, which are often targets of intensive tobacco industry interference and marketing.

• Tobacco can also be deadly for non-smokers. Second-hand smoke exposure has also been implicated in adverse health outcomes, causing 1.6 million deaths annually. 

• Smoking while pregnant can lead to several life-long health conditions for babies. 

• Smoking also substantially increases the risk of many major health conditions throughout people’s lives, such as strokes, diabetes, heart disease, stillbirth, dementia and asthma.

Indian govt’s initiatives to control tobacco use

The Indian government has taken a series of measures to deter people from consuming various tobacco products, including imported cigarettes.

They are:

1) Enactment of the “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) 2003”.

2) Ratification of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

3) Launch of the National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP) in 2007-08, with the objectives to: 

a) Create awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.

b) Reduce the production and supply of tobacco products.

c) Ensure effective implementation of the anti-tobacco laws.

d) Help the people quit tobacco use through Tobacco Cessation Centres.

4) Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement) Act (PECA), 2019 to protect the masses from the health hazards attributable to  consumption of e-cigarettes and similar devices.

• The enforcement of provisions of COTPA, 2003 and PECA, 2019 primarily lies with the states/Union Territories.

• The states/UTs undertake drives for enforcement of COTPA, 2003 from time to time.

• Enforcement efforts are also monitored by the State Tobacco Control Cells (STCCs) and District Tobacco Control Cells (DTCCs).

Extending tobacco control policies to digital platforms

• India has implemented stringent measures to curb TAPS (tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship) across all forms of media, including television, radio, print and digital platforms. 

• To restrict depictions of tobacco use in entertainment media, the government introduced the Tobacco-Free Films and Television Rules in 2012, focusing on traditional platforms like cinema and television.

• However, as more people shift towards using digital streaming platforms, India recognised the need to update its tobacco control policies. 

• Coinciding with World No Tobacco Day on May 31, 2023, the government introduced an amendment to the 2012 legislation, extending its coverage to over-the-top (ott) streaming platforms. 

• With this move, India became the first country in the world to apply tobacco control regulations specifically to digital streaming content.

Key provisions of the 2023 Amendment include:

• Health spots: Anti-tobacco health spots lasting at least 30 seconds must be shown at both the beginning and middle of any programme displaying tobacco products or their use.

• Static warnings: A clear, static anti-tobacco health warning must be displayed at the bottom of the screen whenever tobacco products or usage appear.

• Audio-visual disclaimers: A disclaimer on the harms of tobacco use lasting a minimum of 20 seconds must be presented at the start and midpoint of the content.

• All warnings and messages must be delivered in the same language as the content to ensure maximum understanding and impact.