What's your opinion about Tobacco in India?
- Thread starter friedclyde
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Even though smoking is the most noticeable form of Tobacco consumption, one shouldn't forget that Gutkha chewing is one of the most dangerous forms [if not more dangerous than smoking] of tobacco consumption.
I have lost 2 family members due to this. My dad passed away at the age of 53 [Oral Cancer - Continous paan chewing for 15 years] My uncle passed away at an age of 45 [Lung Cancer - Smoked 3 to 5 packs a day]. The pain and the loss of dignity that prevails when cancer invades the body is horrendous. I had to see good healthy men waste away into skeletons and dying very painful deaths. Cancer is merciless.
Apart from the personal agony, I see smokers everyday in office and keep advising them to cut down. They simply laugh and keep puffing away. Even the auto drivers with whom I travel suffer my lectures and keep still keep spitting on the roads.
The associated death statistics don't have any meaning to the addicts. Both my father & uncle never listened to me. They either ignore or consider themselves invulnerable.
I have so far managed to convince 2 people to quit smoking by telling them what I have gone through and showing them photos & CT-Scans of my father's cancer.
They were convinced. So for once, even though I hate Anbumani Ramadoss, I stand by his policy of putting graphic images of cancer in all tobacco products.
A picture sometimes conveys a thousand words.
On the flipside, Tobacco is a necessary evil for the government, which gets a lot of money out of it. So I wouldn't suggest an outright ban on tobacco products. In a democracy, people also have the right to choose how they kill themselves, knowingly or un-knowingly.
I have lost 2 family members due to this. My dad passed away at the age of 53 [Oral Cancer - Continous paan chewing for 15 years] My uncle passed away at an age of 45 [Lung Cancer - Smoked 3 to 5 packs a day]. The pain and the loss of dignity that prevails when cancer invades the body is horrendous. I had to see good healthy men waste away into skeletons and dying very painful deaths. Cancer is merciless.
Apart from the personal agony, I see smokers everyday in office and keep advising them to cut down. They simply laugh and keep puffing away. Even the auto drivers with whom I travel suffer my lectures and keep still keep spitting on the roads.
The associated death statistics don't have any meaning to the addicts. Both my father & uncle never listened to me. They either ignore or consider themselves invulnerable.
I have so far managed to convince 2 people to quit smoking by telling them what I have gone through and showing them photos & CT-Scans of my father's cancer.
They were convinced. So for once, even though I hate Anbumani Ramadoss, I stand by his policy of putting graphic images of cancer in all tobacco products.
A picture sometimes conveys a thousand words.
On the flipside, Tobacco is a necessary evil for the government, which gets a lot of money out of it. So I wouldn't suggest an outright ban on tobacco products. In a democracy, people also have the right to choose how they kill themselves, knowingly or un-knowingly.
Well Tobacco has a lot unforeseen detrimental effects on society then what we people see directly.
People or even children are lured into bad habits by the surroundings, the company they keep and some sort of motivation abusers provide to the non users.
What I have observed is that specially children who start consuming these substances have a lot of factors luring them few of them may be.
1. Uncontrolled and unaudited supply of money.
2. Motivation from within close knit circle like family and friends who consume tobacco.
3. By forced situation they start earning money before they gain knowledge and power to understand the value of money.
4. Uninhibited behaviour (hostellites / working parents / some other facts)
5. Abundant and cheap supply (even 25 paise will fetch you a dose).
6. Inadequate campaign about side effects of consumption.
Someone said about tobacco generating employment, have you ever seen any person working in a tobacco product manufacturing unit. Their life is miserable, and their working lifespan is hardly 10 years by that time they get some or the other ailment which makes them incompetent to carry further work.
The burden on Government Health system is terrific because of rampaging increase in numbers of head and neck and lungs cancers. Those money can be well spent on those diseases where the patient is victim of bad luck, not a self blinded person indulging into bad habits even though knowing the effects of it.
I am whole heartedly against any form of tobacco consumption and actively force my near and dear ones to leave the habit and I also advise any one here having that habit to leave it now.
PS edit after seeing post of neoronin:
sorry pal to hear about your loss.
thats what makes me sad, 1 re. gutkha will make a lot harm to your body then a glass of roadside juice.
People or even children are lured into bad habits by the surroundings, the company they keep and some sort of motivation abusers provide to the non users.
What I have observed is that specially children who start consuming these substances have a lot of factors luring them few of them may be.
1. Uncontrolled and unaudited supply of money.
2. Motivation from within close knit circle like family and friends who consume tobacco.
3. By forced situation they start earning money before they gain knowledge and power to understand the value of money.
4. Uninhibited behaviour (hostellites / working parents / some other facts)
5. Abundant and cheap supply (even 25 paise will fetch you a dose).
6. Inadequate campaign about side effects of consumption.
Someone said about tobacco generating employment, have you ever seen any person working in a tobacco product manufacturing unit. Their life is miserable, and their working lifespan is hardly 10 years by that time they get some or the other ailment which makes them incompetent to carry further work.
The burden on Government Health system is terrific because of rampaging increase in numbers of head and neck and lungs cancers. Those money can be well spent on those diseases where the patient is victim of bad luck, not a self blinded person indulging into bad habits even though knowing the effects of it.
I am whole heartedly against any form of tobacco consumption and actively force my near and dear ones to leave the habit and I also advise any one here having that habit to leave it now.
PS edit after seeing post of neoronin:
sorry pal to hear about your loss.
thats what makes me sad, 1 re. gutkha will make a lot harm to your body then a glass of roadside juice.
The ban on smoking is the one good thing the government has done in 60+ years of existence. It's the best thing to happen in the past few years.
Now, I can happily walk into any restaurant confident in the knowledge that I wont end up puking my food.
I basically throw my weight(and it's a considerable amount, mind you! ) behind hammerhead.
We had spoken abt this when we met in Delhi last year. I simply hate smokers. I dont drink either but I have no problems with people who drink as they are not troubling anyone else. It's their personal choice. Another thing is, most of the people I know who drink are well aware of their limits and alcohol makes them a little tipsy which is fun. Very rarely have I seen anyone go out of control because of drinks. TE meets in B'lore are even more fun only because of booze!
When it comes to smokers, I have experienced a couple of jackasses who dont give a $#!t abt others. However politely I tell them to extinguish the cigarette, they dont. They instead get aggressive and turn on me. I prefer walking away from them if I can.
I have walked away from parties in the past because of cigarettes. Most TBHP meets have a majority of smokers. The first meet I attended was a disaster because of this. It was in a house and soon the whole place was filled with cigarette smoke. I left soon after. In a group like this, I cant even request them to switch it off, because I'm in a minority and the others just laugh it off.
Indians dont have a concept of personal space.
Hammerhead -- Me and you should patrol the malls of Noida and punch smokers in the face. You punch them in the space, I'll kick them where it hurts.
Now, I can happily walk into any restaurant confident in the knowledge that I wont end up puking my food.
I basically throw my weight(and it's a considerable amount, mind you! ) behind hammerhead.
We had spoken abt this when we met in Delhi last year. I simply hate smokers. I dont drink either but I have no problems with people who drink as they are not troubling anyone else. It's their personal choice. Another thing is, most of the people I know who drink are well aware of their limits and alcohol makes them a little tipsy which is fun. Very rarely have I seen anyone go out of control because of drinks. TE meets in B'lore are even more fun only because of booze!
When it comes to smokers, I have experienced a couple of jackasses who dont give a $#!t abt others. However politely I tell them to extinguish the cigarette, they dont. They instead get aggressive and turn on me. I prefer walking away from them if I can.
I have walked away from parties in the past because of cigarettes. Most TBHP meets have a majority of smokers. The first meet I attended was a disaster because of this. It was in a house and soon the whole place was filled with cigarette smoke. I left soon after. In a group like this, I cant even request them to switch it off, because I'm in a minority and the others just laugh it off.
Indians dont have a concept of personal space.
Hammerhead -- Me and you should patrol the malls of Noida and punch smokers in the face. You punch them in the space, I'll kick them where it hurts.
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Quasar
hammerhead said:
Given the sentiments non-smokers have re
ollution, don't you think the biggest polluters of all ie cars & bikes, especially trucks need to be tightened. One of the best things i like here, after the rains is how clean & fresh everything smells. Having lived in over 5 different countries I've never noticed the difference elsewhere why is that ?How do emission standards in this country compare to those elsewhere ? What about enforcement ?
Abroad, only after they had tight emission stds in place did smoking in bars & pubs get restricted, that too at least a good cpl of decades later. Course after it happened there we did not want to be left behind, but in the process forgot about the bigger problem.
Smokers can never compete on this level !
hammerhead said:
lol, the smoke coming from cars and bikes is okay because they do something useful :rofl: Incase you didnt know people die from pollution too but according to your logic their deaths are OK bcoz cars and bikes are good.
My original post was directed at Lord Nemesis where he said that non smokers have to forcefully inhale smoke. Do you get my point or should I explain it further.
I know smoking is bad thatz why I smoke only 1 cigg per day compared to my friends who smoke 1-2 packets everyday.
I have a problem with the current smoking ban where you cant even smoke in hotels. If the hotel has a smoking and a non smoking section everyone is happy why do you have to ban that.
I have a problem with the goverment trying to control my life. (although putting those gross images on cigg packets is a right decision ), tommorow some minister like ramadoss will ban alcohol then something else.
neoronin - Iam sorry to hear that but they were adults, it was their decision, I just dont think the goverment should interfere in your private life.
Nikhil said:
But this is India, goverments makes laws and we patriotic Indians break them.
and dont give me bullcrap like each and every worker related to the tobacco industry is going to get a job in building the infrastructure. Are you going to pay for all the roads, hospitals etc. The roads on which you drive your smoke emitting vehicles was probably built with tobacco tax money.
hyeah: Ps - Not all people smoke becoz they can pretend to be cool.
Hacker said:
I agree pollution is also equally bad, but our way of living comes to a standstill with out the vehicles. Even so, its still its a problem acknowledged by all and active measures/research are going on to reduce it as far as possible. That's why we are looking for alternate sources of energy
Can you say the same for smoking. Is smoking doing any good for the society? When measures are taken to at least minimize it, people just object.
Hacker said:and dont give me bullcrap like each and every worker related to the tobacco industry is going to get a job in building the infrastructure. Are you going to pay for all the roads, hospitals etc. The roads on which you drive your smoke emitting vehicles was probably built with tobacco tax money.
Whats the worst that will happen to those people if they could not get alternative employment?? May be they will die. Its still far better for these people to die of hunger than dying in more painful ways after getting TB/ Spinal TB, getting blind and what not. As for statement regarding tobacco paying for everything, its pretty overstated and it would not even be needed if everyone can pay their income taxes properly without fudging their documents or not paying at all and the govt makes sure that people pay them properly.
Hacker said:
Pray tell me, what other dire reason prompts teenagers in schools/colleges to pick up the smoking habit then. Its at least understandable if people in extreme cold climates smoke to keep their body metabolism active. But what reason does smokers in our country have for picking up the habit.
Hacker said:lol, the smoke coming from cars and bikes is okay because they do something useful :rofl: Incase you didnt know people die from pollution too but according to your logic their deaths are OK bcoz cars and bikes are good.
My original post was directed at Lord Nemesis where he said that non smokers have to forcefully inhale smoke. Do you get my point or should I explain it further.
I know smoking is bad thatz why I smoke only 1 cigg per day compared to my friends who smoke 1-2 packets everyday.
I have a problem with the current smoking ban where you cant even smoke in hotels. If the hotel has a smoking and a non smoking section everyone is happy why do you have to ban that.
I have a problem with the goverment trying to control my life. (although putting those gross images on cigg packets is a right decision ), tommorow some minister like ramadoss will ban alcohol then something else.
neoronin - Iam sorry to hear that but they were adults, it was their decision, I just dont think the goverment should interfere in your private life.
But this is India, goverments makes laws and we patriotic Indians break them.
and dont give me bullcrap like each and every worker related to the tobacco industry is going to get a job in building the infrastructure. Are you going to pay for all the roads, hospitals etc. The roads on which you drive your smoke emitting vehicles was probably built with tobacco tax money.
Ps - Not all people smoke becoz they can pretend to be cool.
Go an invent another renewable source of energy before you come and post crap like this. You are absolutely justified in your smoking and have no concern for the health of others. We inhale your bloody smoke because we also inhale smoke of cars? Ban on smoking was put because of people like you who give lame reasons like this and go on smoking on everyone's faces. If people had limited themselves and not smoked in public areas, there would be no need for a ban.
@ neoronin ~ very sorry to learn about your loss, thank you for sharing it with us.
@ hacker ~ i like the attitude with the governemnt point of view
everyone else thanks for the contri bution i like this, its turning into a debate more than non sensical violence
of course somethings are quit e funny and some our non sensical..
tall may be interested in this video on what cigarettes do the human body
India Matters: The Effect of Cigarettes on the Human Body
@ hacker ~ i like the attitude with the governemnt point of view
everyone else thanks for the contri bution i like this, its turning into a debate more than non sensical violence
of course somethings are quit e funny and some our non sensical..tall may be interested in this video on what cigarettes do the human body
India Matters: The Effect of Cigarettes on the Human Body
I think bollywood actors and smoking on television has a major role to play in influencing the masses. I think there should be a kind of responsibility when people smoke on televison, or role models smoking in public perhaps.
As some people say that its the directors freedom of choice to have smoking on television, but perhaps they should execute more responsibility, or is it a massive revenue generator as a surrogate advertisement?
As some people say that its the directors freedom of choice to have smoking on television, but perhaps they should execute more responsibility, or is it a massive revenue generator as a surrogate advertisement?
Party Monger
Juggernaut
Dont forget the red walls..i hate them..stupid ppl consume tobacco and gutkha and kharra and spit anywhere they like
Tobacco is not just cigarette.. Don't forget the gutkhas, khainis, paans and various other forms of tobacco. Lay people have very little knowledge of the effects of tobacco on our body. Chewing what is commonly known as "pouch" in this part of the country (I'm currently in Indore) is a habit which I see in people of all classes..educated and uneducated alike.
I was very much surprised and shocked when I saw a very young girl (less than 3 yrs of age) with a condition called as Oral Submucous Fibrosis. This is a disease occurring due to long term tobacco chewing habits. On questioning the parents, we came to know that the father used to give his daughter about 1 rupee a day to buy gutkha/paan and eat.. That is the state of tobacco awareness in India now.
(For those of you who do not know, OSMF is a disease in which the person's cheek becomes progressively taut and mouth opening gradually decreases. The girl I mentioned about, had less than 1 cm mouth opening, whereas normally you would be able to open at least 4cms.. This condition is almost irreversible... Imagine the plight..)
Basically, awareness has to be raised.. and I'm ready to support any means by which this can be done.. be it graphic images on the cigarette boxes, or banning tobacco products, or whatever else..
I was very much surprised and shocked when I saw a very young girl (less than 3 yrs of age) with a condition called as Oral Submucous Fibrosis. This is a disease occurring due to long term tobacco chewing habits. On questioning the parents, we came to know that the father used to give his daughter about 1 rupee a day to buy gutkha/paan and eat.. That is the state of tobacco awareness in India now.
(For those of you who do not know, OSMF is a disease in which the person's cheek becomes progressively taut and mouth opening gradually decreases. The girl I mentioned about, had less than 1 cm mouth opening, whereas normally you would be able to open at least 4cms.. This condition is almost irreversible... Imagine the plight..)Basically, awareness has to be raised.. and I'm ready to support any means by which this can be done.. be it graphic images on the cigarette boxes, or banning tobacco products, or whatever else..
@ chiron Heroine = brown sugar or plain ol white?
@ Rockfella, I think its just dependent on ur will power, try to keep urself occupied perhaps chew a gum or drink a cup of tea
@ Rockfella, I think its just dependent on ur will power, try to keep urself occupied perhaps chew a gum or drink a cup of tea
Actually this ban has worked wonders, purely due to the inconvenience caused to smokers, atleast in my work place, who have to walk 10 mins to reach outside the gate, and smoke. They have halved their intake of tobacco.
But I agree with Hacker, second hand tobacco smoke causes a fraction of damage compared to the vehicular pollution. Atleast here in Mumbai if the govt can actually enforce the bill to ban vehicles more then 15 yrs of age, it will make life a much better experience, but no, the taxi and rickshaw guys cry it will rob them off their livelihood.. Sorry but you cant have a bigoted viewpoint where the lives of few danger lives of the majority.. Why do anyone not object to this ? Last I heard the pollution in a metro like mumbai is akin to smoking a pack of cigarettes (and nope not second hand smoke). So now compare the damage caused by second hand smoke to vehicular pollution and you will know what is really killing you.
But I agree with Hacker, second hand tobacco smoke causes a fraction of damage compared to the vehicular pollution. Atleast here in Mumbai if the govt can actually enforce the bill to ban vehicles more then 15 yrs of age, it will make life a much better experience, but no, the taxi and rickshaw guys cry it will rob them off their livelihood.. Sorry but you cant have a bigoted viewpoint where the lives of few danger lives of the majority.. Why do anyone not object to this ? Last I heard the pollution in a metro like mumbai is akin to smoking a pack of cigarettes (and nope not second hand smoke). So now compare the damage caused by second hand smoke to vehicular pollution and you will know what is really killing you.
^^ agreed.
Btw, I am totally against putting the gory pics on cigarette packs. Smokers will easily get used to ignoring it while it would probably traumatize some poor kid who comes across a used pack(especially if they have someone close to them who is a smoker).
Also I feel that the excessive rhetoric used by some anti-tobacco campaigners just makes people take the cause less seriously.
Btw, I am totally against putting the gory pics on cigarette packs. Smokers will easily get used to ignoring it while it would probably traumatize some poor kid who comes across a used pack(especially if they have someone close to them who is a smoker).
Also I feel that the excessive rhetoric used by some anti-tobacco campaigners just makes people take the cause less seriously.
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