Happy yet sad news for smokers (Cigarette ban in the UK). Philip Morris International, popularly known as the Tobacco Giant, just announced that it will no longer sell cigarettes in the United Kingdom in the next years. They will, however, enforce a ban on the legendary Marlboro brand.
The CEO, Jacek Olczak, stressed that people’s first priority should be to quit smoking. On the contrary, if they don’t, we’ll have to ban them and force people to switch to better options. Furthermore, his goal is to create a “cigarette-free environment“.
He also predicted in May that by 2025, smoke-free products will account for more than half of the company’s revenue.
However, the corporation is attempting to make every effort to effect societal change. Furthermore, the UK government has announced that by 2030, England would be smoke-free. Also, the United Kingdom will be termed smoke-free when the smoking rate falls below 5%.
This is, without a doubt, a growing global concern. According to the World Health Organization, “the tobacco pandemic is one of the most serious public health challenges the world has ever faced.” Furthermore, it kills nearly 8 million individuals each year.
Cigarette ban in UK: What about India?
India has the world’s second-largest adult smoking population. In India, “BIDI” is the most widely used smoking product. In the year 2017-2019, it is estimated that 266.8 million people consumed tobacco. As you can see by the data shown above, in India from the age of 15 people start smoking. You may now guess, by 2021, this number will have risen significantly. Furthermore, as compared to other cigarettes, bidis deliver a higher level of nicotine.
Nonetheless, both the government and non-government organisations have taken steps to deter people from smoking. The Indian government enacted the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act in 2003 at the national level (COTPA).
Anyway, these are some of the government’s assessments and actions. But, at the end of the day, only “we” have power over “ourselves.” We should give up smoking and strive to encourage others to do the same.
Do you believe cigarettes will be outlawed in India in the coming years as a “cigarette ban in the UK”?
Please share your thoughts in the comments box below.
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