TOBACCO control rules are being openly flouted in India's commercial hub, Mumbai. There is a ban on advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products, but there is no Mumbai street where you can't find a cigarette advertisement.
Under the rules, companies are allowed to display product information at ' points of purchase' but the size of boards companies can place at retail points has been specified.
But cigarette companies are placing much bigger boards and are putting them in a contiguous manner — on two or more adjoining retail points in a row — cornering a much larger display area. Such displays are being put up on shops that are closed as well as on those which usually do not stock cigarettes.
The most surprising violation of the tobacco law can be seen at the new departure terminal of the Mumbai airport. Instead of setting up a fully covered and pressurised smoking room — as specified under the law — an open ' smoking corner' has been set up. Smokers are advised not to move out of the corner which is like an open STD kiosk.
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