Shivamogga: The State Excise Department has issued a circular ordering all the bar and restaurants of the city to ban smoking here on Thursday, June 27.
In its circular, the department has mentioned that smoking cigarettes or tobacco in any form was injurious to health and on this ground, it had taken this action.
It has directed all the bars, pubs, and restaurant owners to implement the order strictly under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (COTPA) Act, 2003, Section 4.
The Act also strictly prohibits smoking in other areas like railway stations, movie theatres, bus stands and other public places.
Earlier, a workshop on COTPA Act 2003 was organised in the District Excise Assistant Commissioner’s office in order to train its officials. A team of officials under the direction of the Commissioner of Excise Department have also been formed in order to make sure that the law is enforced.
Speaking to media, Advisor to Tobacco Prevention Cell, Hemanth Raj Urs said that the deaths due to consumption of tobacco was seemingly high as around 10 Lakh people die every year in the country due to its usage.
“The health department has implemented the COTPA Act 2003 in order to avoid such untoward incidents and help protect people’s health”, he said.
