PANJIM: In order to document instances of tobacco companies advertising, selling, displaying or incentivising the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions in India, Voluntary Health Association of India and Consumer VOICE, undertook the study titled ‘Big Tobacco, Tiny Targets’.
This study was released on Saturday at a workshop organised by National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE) India President Dr Shekhar Salkar.
It is to be noted that ‘The Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act’ (COTPA) has banned the sale of tobacco to and by minors and prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions. Furthermore, under COTPA Rules, tobacco advertising, promotion and display are banned at the point of sale.
However, the study discovered that 97 points of sale were identified selling tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutes in Goa.
The study further stated that 22.73% points of sale in Goa displayed tobacco products at the eye level of a child (about 1 metre high). Moreover, 65.91% points of sale in Goa displayed cigarettes in a way that concealed mandated health warning labels. There were also 13.64% points of sale in Goa, which displayed cigarettes near candies and sweets to attract children.
Regarding the type of sales, the study revealed that in Goa, 90.91% sold single stick cigarettes.
The study found that 4.55% points of sale in Goa had tobacco products of Philip Morris International; no sale had British American Tobacco products or Japan Tobacco International tobacco products. Goa’s 93.18% points of sale had products of Imperial Tobacco Company of India Limited, which is the most popular among the Indian companies.
The study estimated tobacco consumption in Goa to be 15.3% for men, 4% for women, and 9.7% for all adults.
