ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco smoking is a global phenomenon, associated not only with health but also with other issues like employment, trade and revenue. However, the ill aspects of tobacco outweigh any productivity related to it. Various regulatory measures have been devised to control this menace at national as well as international level. In India, COTPA-2003 legislation intends to control and regulate tobacco consumption, advertisement and trade. Methods: The present study assessed the compliance of 157 points of sale and 59 tobacco products to the Sections 5,7,8,9 and 10 of the smoke free legislation using a structured observational checklist. Results: In total (41%) POS were advertising tobacco in one or other form with product showcasing (64%) being the most common modality of advertisement. Actual advertisement boards were seen at only 14.6% of POS. About 87% of the advertisement boards carried a health warning. Loose cigarettes were being sold at about 77% of the POS. All tobacco products available in the city were observed to display good compliance; however none of the smoke product displayed nicotine and tar content on the pack. Conclusions: Negligible number of PoS was seen to display an actual advertisement. Almost all tobacco products displayed good compliance to the Act. The striking shortcoming was the absence of nicotine and tar content on the package of the product even after 16 years of enactment. Discrepancies need to be addressed appropriately supplemented with aggressive monitoring of adherence to the Act in order to sustain the smoke free status of the city.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tobacco smoking is a pandemic affecting populations and contributing to global morbidity and mortality. It is well known that the second hand smoke is equally hazardous like first hand smoke. Cigarette and other tobacco products act 2003 is an effort put forth by Government of India in order to curb this menace and protect people from ill effects of second hand smoke.Methods: The present study was conducted to assess the compliance to smoke free act in tertiary healthcare institutes in Shimla city, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 57 public places and 8 shops in five Tertiary healthcare institutes were evaluated for various provisions of the act. Compliance to different sections of the act was assessed using a structured observational checklist.Results: Signage indicating ban on smoking was seen at 71.9% places. Active smoking was absent at 77.2% places. About 25% shops around the institutes were found selling tobacco products. Signage displaying ban on sale within 100 m of educational institution and sale to minors was not observed at any shop. Tobacco product vendor was seen around 80% of educational buildings. Tobacco free institution signage was seen at 60% of educational premises.Conclusions: The study highlights that the level of compliance did not meet the standards laid down for a smoke free city. Timely and periodic assessment of the compliance must be conducted by the administrative authorities of the institutes for ensuring the adherence and strict implementation of the provisions of the act.