Remove smoking rooms at hotels, airports, govt urged

Appreciating the government for initiating the process to amend COTPA 2003, they appealed for immediate removal of the current provision that permits smoking areas.

Hyderabad: On the occasion of No Smoking Day, doctors, cancer victims and restaurateurs urged the Indian government to remove designated smoking rooms at hotels/restaurants and airports to protect people from second-hand smoke.

While appreciating the government for initiating the process to amend COTPA 2003, they appealed for immediate removal of the current provision that permits smoking areas to make India 100 per cent smoke free and check the spread of Covid-19 infection in India.

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In India, smoking is banned in all public places as per the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce Production, Supply and Distribution) Act COTPA 2003. Section 4 of this Act prohibits smoking in any place to which the public has access. However, COTPA 2003, presently allows smoking in certain public places like restaurants, hotels, and airports, in designated smoking areas.

Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, Head Neck Cancer Surgeon, Tata Memorial Hospital, says, “There is growing evidence that smoking is a risk for Covid infection. Smoking worsens lung function and reduces immunity. Smokers who develop Covid infection have more complications and greater risk of fatality. All designated smoking areas in hotels and restaurants and even airports should be abolished to ensure a 100 per cent smoke free environment.”

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