In a significant decision, the union health ministry said that the shops selling tobacco products will not be allowed to sell non-tobacco products that may draw the attention of children. The government has also asked the state governments to develop a method under which shops selling tobacco products would need authorization from municipal bodies.
The step will certainly impose an effective check on sale of tobacco and will prevent exposure of children to tobacco products. The government has also enacted the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. Under this, giving any child tobacco products is punishable with rigorous imprisonment of up to seven years.
The 10 nations with the largest number of smokers in 2015 were China, India, Indonesia, USA, Russia, Bangladesh, Japan, Brazil, Germany and the Philippines. The USA, China, and India were the leading countries in a total number of female smokers.
