The burning truth

Be it for the ‘cool factor’ or otherwise, smoking and consumption of tobacco-related products are a part of many people’s lives today. The ‘World No Tobacco Day’ falls today and comes with the theme ‘get ready for plain packaging’, which is being encouraged by the World Health Organisation.

Sridhar S Tirumale, a civil engineer, who smoked for 20 years, quit the habit around 11 years back. “One cannot keep planning and scheduling these things — quitting smoking or consumption of tobacco-related products has to happen at one go.”

Like many, Sridhar believes that people who smoke will not be deterred by large warning images or plain packaging (also referred to as ‘plackaging’ which means that the brand’s name is not advertised) on cigarette packets. “There are many people who do not buy packets at all. There are also vendors who store cigarettes in huge tins, thus the purpose is lost,” he says.

He says that the government has to stop these corner shops from selling cigarettes in totality. “No one apart from the big industries involved in this business benefit from the trade. The only way that one can curb the habit is by making cigarettes non-accessible.”
      
He adds that just like the ‘helmet rule’, people should be strictly penalised when they are caught smoking in public. “Only stringent rules will cause fear.”
 
There are others like Akash Suri (name changed), an IT professional, who slipped into depression during his younger days and found comfort in cigarettes. “I have been trying to quit ever since and have reduced the intake — from a pack of 20 per day to 3 cigarettes now. It has a lot to do with will power. Everyone knows about the harmful effects of smoking, but it requires one’s own judgement to understand and stop the habit.”

He says that there is a lot that can be done to curb it. “I make it a point not to smoke in front of people who don’t like it as passive smoking causes more harm.” He says that designated smoking zones should be made a mandatory part of the city.  “Compulsory awareness classes should be conducted in schools so that one is aware of the negative effects of consuming any form of tobacco. Also, one has to remember that it is not cool to smoke.”

Medical professionals like Dr Vivek A Padegal, director of Pulmonary Medicine, Fortis Hospitals, says that heavy taxes on such products is the best way to go. “Making it difficult to access these products will help kick the habit. In terms of packaging, people might not be really shaken by the gory images. But intensive campaigns should make a difference. Educating about the ill-effects is the only way to go,” he says. 

Dr Vivek adds that whether it is 5 or 50 cigarettes a day, the habit is going to cause health issues anyway. “The intensity might be slower, but one is still at high risk of cancer, heart and lung-related ailments. This has to be understood,” he says.

Others laud the measure taken by the Centre to use 85% of the packaging on cigarette packets for warning. Dr Vishal Rao US, consultant oncologist — head and neck surgeon, HealthCare Global Enterprises Limited, says, “Every year with increasing awareness, the tobacco industry loses out on 10 lakh customers. And the industry again targets fresh customers which is the younger generation. With this step, everyone will think several times before buying a pack,” adds Dr Vishal.

He clarifies that earlier the packet had only 40% space for warning and this allowed 160% (60% on one panel and 100% on the other) of space for advertisements. “The new rule plus the worldwide theme of ‘plackaging’ aims to bring in better health awareness and curb the habit. The new packages are bound to make one think once again before buying it as it is a bit embarrassing to have such a pack at one’s house in front of family or even at work.”

Dr Vishal adds that ‘plackaging’ aims to prevent the ill-effects of smoking and promote the ‘right to knowledge’ for better health.