JOIN USWhile a few smokers in the city have already coughed up fines for smoking in public places, hotels and petty shops who allow people to smoke will now face the heat from the police.
Commissioner of Police, M A Saleem has decided to strictly enforce section 4, 5 and 6 of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003.
Though petty shop owners and tea vendors did not witness any drop in sales when city police decided to fine people for smoking in public places, they are now in a dilemma, as allowing people to smoke would be a costly affair for them.
A tea vendor near Institute of Engineers premises in city, Ramesh said that police officials have visited the shop and have instructed them not to allow customers to smoke in front of their shop. “Previously, when police decided to fine smokers, it did not affect us much. However, since we will also be targeted if customers smokes, we are asking them not to smoke in front of our shops. We are also asking customers not to light their cigarettes here,” he said.
The decision of the Commissioner to impose COPTA attracted criticism from a petty store owner in Agrahara. Under the condition of anonymity, he said that the shopkeepers earned less than fifty paise for selling a cigarette. “Fining us, if people smoke inside our shop is wrong,” he opined.
Saleem, however, is confident that the law would deter people who smoke outside to stop smoking in public places. According to COPTA smoking is restricted at auditoriums, movie theatres, restaurants, bars, pubs, markets, shopping malls and other public places.
On a question on where people should smoke if COPTA is enforced throughout the city, Saleem said that smokers should smoke at their homes, as smoking in public places was a nuisance. “How can anybody be allowed to smoke in public places?” he questioned.
He said that there were clear cut regulations regarding smoking in public places, which will be implemented. “Till date, more than 2,000 people have been fined throughout the city for smoking. A few vendors have also been fined,” he said.