Indian government plans tougher tobacco laws

The Indian government has drafted antitobacco legislation aimed at curbing India's rising consumption of tobacco. The legislation, which will be introduced to parliament at its next sitting, seeks to ban all advertisements for tobacco products; prohibit smoking in public; and extend statutory warnings to non-cigarette products of tobacco, which account for nearly 80% of all tobacco consumed in the country.

The legislation, prepared by the ministry of health and family welfare in consultation with the law ministry, also seeks to ban the sale of tobacco within a radius of 100m of all educational institutions, medical colleges, and hospitals. The new rules will …