Prohibition on the Sale of Single Cigarettes - The Hindu - 29/12/22

Context:
Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has recommended a ban on the sale of single sticks of cigarettes, in its report about Cancer Management, Prevention and Diagnosis.
Relevance:
GS2
About:
-->Need for Imposing a Ban:
-Cancerous: Oral cancer accounts for the highest proportion of cancer cases in the country.
-Singles Stick are more Alluring: Single sticks are more economical to acquire than a full pack of cigarettes.
-Highly Addictive: Nicotine in tobacco products is highly addictive, and without cessation support only 4% of users who attempt to quit tobacco consumption will succeed, according to the WHO.ck are more Alluring: Single sticks are more economical to acquire than a full pack of cigarettes.
-Some Reports concern over Usage: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has observed that all forms of tobacco are harmful, and there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco.

->Key Recommendations:
-Containing the Sale of Tobacco: National Health Policy (2017) endeavors a relative reduction in current tobacco use by 30% in 2025, making it imperative that the government take effective measures to contain the sale of tobacco products.
-Abolishment of Smoking Areas: The government should abolish all designated smoking areas in airports, hotels and restaurants in addition to encouraging a smoke-free policy in organizations.
-Revive Tax Increases: India has the lowest prices for tobacco products and thus making them more accessible and it must be looked at to increase taxes on them.
-Prohibition on Gutka: Sought a ban on gutka and pan masala alongside a prohibition on their direct and indirect advertisement.

->How Efficacious Can a Ban Be:
-Not Feasible Pan India Ban
-May Create Routes for Illegal Cigarettes
-Absence of vendor Licensing Regime

->Tobacco Control Measures in India:
-International Convention: Governments adopt and implement the tobacco control provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
-Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003: Replaced the Cigarettes Act of 1975 (largely limited to statutory warnings- ‘Cigarette Smoking is Injurious to Health’ to be displayed on cigarette packs and advertisements. It did not include non-cigarettes).
-National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP), 2008
-mCessation Programme

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