With the Supreme Court vacating stay orders, the stage is set for larger pictorial warnings on cigarette packets, something the industry was wary of doing because they believe it would eventually push customers away from smoking. The court rightly pointed out that tobacco manufacturers have a duty towards society and bigger warnings “ 85 per cent of the packet, would make smokers more aware of the serious health issues related to tobacco. Smoking is a health issue, but this self-destructive habit also provides livelihoods to many, and a revenue of nearly Rs 20,000 crore to the exchequer. A gradual slow-down is perhaps
the right way of approaching the hypothetical zero level
when everyone seizes to smoke. However, the route to this
level is fraught with difficulties. Tobacco farmers who are dependent
on the trade and tribals who collect and sell tendu
leaves will have to be rehabilitated and this is not going to be
an easy task given the number of people involved in the trade.
Australia managed to discourage tobacco farming through a
series of incentives and India can follow suit provided viable
alternatives are created for those who need to be rehabilitated.
In the meantime, pictorial warnings are the best way of discouraging
first-time smokers and curbing manufacturers from
increasing the size of the market.
