No Smoking Day: Government Urged to Eliminate Designated Smoking Rooms in Hotels and Airports

While commending the government’s initiative to amend COTPA 2003 and aim for a 100% smoke-free India, experts have urged for the immediate removal of current provisions allowing designated smoking areas.

Expressing concerns about the health risks associated with smoking, Dr. Harit Chaturvedi, chairman of Max Institute of Cancer Care, emphasized the need to eliminate all designated smoking areas in public spaces like hotels, restaurants, and airports to ensure a completely smoke-free environment.

Although smoking is already banned in public places in India under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003, a provision in COTPA currently permits smoking in designated areas of certain establishments like restaurants, hotels, and airports.

“Designated smoking areas pose significant health risks to non-smokers, especially in eateries where exposure to second-hand smoke is common,” stated Nalini Satyanarayan, a passive smoking victim and health activist. She emphasized that passive smoking can lead to various diseases, including lung cancer and heart disease, affecting both adults and children.

Experts highlighted the dangers of second-hand smoke, noting that it can be as harmful as smoking itself. People with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions face higher risks, and designated smoking areas contribute to the spread of infections, especially in enclosed environments where social distancing is challenging.

Acknowledging the government’s efforts to strengthen tobacco control laws, G P Sharma, president of the Hospitality Association of Uttar Pradesh, expressed support for making the hospitality sector completely smoke-free.

India, with a significant number of tobacco users, witnesses millions of deaths annually due to tobacco-related diseases. The ongoing amendment process and introduction of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Bill, 2020, aim to address these health hazards and create a smoke-free environment for all citizens.