Should the legal age of smoking be increased to 25 years?

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According to recent recommendations for amendments to the Tobacco Regulation Act by the AN expert committee, the minimum age for smoking should be increased to 25 years from the current 18 years. 

The AN committee also favours the hike in executing fine for smoking in public, suggesting that the increase should be done reasonably. Apart from favouring the rise the minimum legal age for smoking to 25 years and increase in fine for smoking in public to Rs 20,000, the committee also recommends the following:

• Prohibition of sale of loose cigarettes


• Increase in the size of image on cigarette packets representing warnings


• Increased fine for sale of tobacco products to underage people


• Increased fine for at point of sale advertisements of cigarettes


• Increased fine for repeat offenders especially when they are traders or companies violating COTPA regulations.

The final report on amendments to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA), 2003, is expected to be finalised early next week, according to the committee members.

 

Here are some thoughts that can make quitting smoking tough

1.  If I have just one cigarette a day, it won’t cause much harm

While smoking one cigarette may not cause as much harm as smoking ten, it is still a mighty blow to your quit smoking regimen. You might allow yourself one today, but you will need two tomorrow. Do you want to live the rest of your life restraining yourself or do you want to be free? Starve yourself from cigarettes come what may, and after a few days you will be able to quit smoking. The few days might feel like a few years, but you can make yourself happy by telling yourself that you have chosen good health over bad.

2. My work requires me to use my brain. How will I be able to do that if I continue smoking?

While you may think that a cigarette will help you concentrate on your work, it is doing exactly the opposite. You are not able to concentrate because of your nicotine addiction and it is important that you understand that and suppress your cravings.

3. So many people smoke. I don’t know how I’ll resist after seeing them enjoy it

Most people who want to smoke wish that they had never started. It usually doesn’t give them any pleasure and they do it to satisfy their craving which makes them feel sane and normal. Non-smokers feel normal all the time, and if you manage to quit your addiction, you can be a non-smoker too!

Photo source: Getty images

 

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Should the legal age of smoking be increased to 25 years?