There was a time when you would wade through a cloud of smoke at most places in Goa, from the bus stands and railway stations to the crowded streets and most restaurants. But, all that is in the past. For a few years now, the government of Goa has managed to crack down on smoking in public spaces and you do not see many smokers around, unless you’re at an open air restaurant or outside a pub.
The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) now states that out of Goa’s population of over 15 years olds, 8.8 percent are tobacco users, which is a good figure and will surely reduce over the years. This means that out of 12,44,261 people in Goa, a little over a lakh, 1,09, 495 use tobacco. Out of the 8.8 percent, 4.2 percent are strictly smokers, four percent chew tobacco and 0.7 percent are dual users. But, with the influx of around 50 lakhs tourists in Goa, that figure will go up.
What is an interesting fact, astonishing at the same time, is that Goa is far higher in the burden of second hand smoke, compared to many states like Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Adults exposed to second hand smoke accounted for 22.8 percent of the population of over 15 year olds, and 24.4 percent were exposed to second hand smoke at home. What the survey doesn’t state is how many below 15 years olds were also exposed to second hand smoke, whether at home or in public places. For Goa, this needs to change. Yes, as a tourist destination curbing smoking in public places across the board might lead to a backlash of sorts but there have to be measures put in place to reduce exposure to second hand smoke, as well as discourage people from smoking.
The tried and tested methods have been used to world over. Raise taxes, curb smoking in public spaces, ban advertising, publicise health risks and help smokers quit. All that is being done, although the last point is not part of a state sponsored programme, which probably needs some looking into.
However, curbing smoking in public need far more enforcement that currently exists in Goa. Open air restaurants and shacks don’t force patrons to move to a secluded area. Most stand or sit outside the boundaries of the establishments and smoke, a practice that also needs to be stopped. Restaurants that do wish to have a smoking section need to follow guidelines in the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), which require exhaust fans and a secluded area. This may cost money, but restaurants need to follow the law.
Prices have been raised and images printed on packets, but for a die-hard smoker, these are just obstacles that can be overcome, as is the no smoking in public spaces law. For the government to get really serious about this, there needs to be a law that prohibits shops from selling single cigarettes for one. All restaurants and pubs need to create sections for smokers and the authorities need to issue yearly FDA, liquor and other licences only if anti-smoking specifications are adhered to. Smoking in public spaces needs to be cracked down on.
Goa will face a rebellion in some sectors and areas but to ensure the safety and good health of future generations, this is a practice that must be put in place soon.
