In a recent development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) brought down banners advertising tobacco products at the point-of-sale in 16 wards, as they violated laws under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Acts (Cotpa). Reports on the same have been submitted to the Superintendent’s office. The action by the BMC came as a result of a survey conducted by the Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF) around Mumbai in 14 wards, to assess the implementation of laws prohibiting the advertising of tobacco products at the point-of-sale.
The SBF shared the findings of the survey with the BMC license and advertising department. The survey revealed that 71 per cent of shops selling tobacco products are in violation of the Cotpa, and 98 per cent are in violation of laws that require proper warnings, as per Cotpa regulations against tobacco usage. It was also found that the companies created 95 per cent of the display boards, indicating a level of interference in the implementation of said laws. Of the four major cigarette manufacturers, ITC (Wills Classic, Wills Navy Cut, Gold Flake, Bristol) and GPI (Four Square, Marlboro) were the most visible advertisers in Mumbai, and therefore major violators of the Cotpa.
B. Sathe, superintendent of the BMC license department, said, “The survey conducted by the SBF brought to our notice the widespread violation of the Cotpa law, and we have taken stringent action against the violators. Also, we will ensure strict punishment in case of further non-compliance if the law.”
To mark the start of a campaign to remove all cigarette advertisements at the point-of-sale, the SBF initiated an enforcement drive at Azad Maidan on May 31 (World No Tobacco Day). The SBF children, along with victims of tobacco consumption, visited nearby paan shops to spread awareness of the Cotpa, and the ill-effects of point-of-sale promotion. They also put up warning boards on these paan shops as prescribed by the law.
Ms Devika Chadha, programme director of the SBF, said, “With such unrelenting support from the authorities, we can hope to completely curb the illegal promotion of tobacco in Maharashtra.”