The Government fulfils the formality of celebrating May 31 as `No-tobacco-day' every year by spending tonnes of money on advertising. But a sincere effort to safeguard the public from the hazards of smoking seems to be missing.

India should follow countries such as Bhutan and Ireland in imposing a total ban on smoking and sale of cigarettes in the country. Government-spending on tobacco-related diseases accounts for much more than the revenue earned by sale of these products. Smoking starts out as a fashionable status symbol among youngsters and later turns into an addiction.

Subhash C. Agrawal

New Delhi

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