Up in smoke

Realizing that their star product, tobacco, might well go out of fashion, even sworn rivals in the tobacco world colluded to protect their common source of profit. These companies created a deliberate smokescreen around the compelling scientific research showing that tobacco was harmful to health. They poured in money to induce other scientists to question these studies to ensure that the public remained in doubt. Their actions were clearly unconscionable, as they subtly promoted an addictive substance through behind-the-scenes manipulation

- ANJALI MEHTA

Whilst travelling recently, I noticed booths selling cigarettes at two well-known international airports in India. This, even though smoking is officially banned in public places. I recalled an incident of a few months ago. That day, while driving to work, I happened to pass by a young girl in a car who was being fined by two policemen for smoking in a supposedly public place ~ the confines of her own car! She looked terrified so I had stopped to enquire if all was well.

A crowd quickly gathered around us and there ensued a lively debate around whether someone’s car constituted a public space. My learning that day was that a personal car when driven out of the home and specially with its windows open, was deemed a public space. It was jarring to note how young college students who are not even earning must pay fines for lighting a cigarette whereas tobacco companies can openly indulge in tobacco sales in public places right under everyone’s noses with no adverse consequences.

On yet another journey, I noticed a special smoking room for passengers in the transit lounge of an overseas airport. I wondered about the necessity of pampering adults like this. Could grown-ups not be asked to desist from smoking for just a couple of hours? Contrast this with the strict enforcement of austerity for widows in India some years ago for example ~ where they were expected to suddenly change their entire lifestyle forever.