Sale of tobacco to be banned within five kms near schools in Kerala

In what could be an almost complete restriction on selling tobacco products in Kerala, Excise Commissioner Rishiraj Singh has said that the department will not allow the sale of tobacco products five kilometres near school premises. Along with banned tobacco products, beedi and cigarette will also not be allowed within the limit. 

For more than a week, the government has been moving ahead with the procedures to implement the ban. "The public can inform me by dialling 9447178000 if anybody violated the ban. I will personally take care of the matter," Singh told Asianet News. 
 

Tobacco ban in Kerala

In 2008, Kottayam became the first district to be tobacco free.

In 2011, Ernakulam was declared as the first smoke-free tourist destination.

In 2011-2012 Kerala banned the sale of pan masala and other addictive products within a radius of 400 meters of educational institutions.  

As per official data, there are around 14,500 schools in the state. If the ban comes into force, it would almost put an end to tobacco business in around 72,500 kilometres! As per the existing rules, the sale of tobacco, cigarettes, beedi and pan products are banned within 500 metres near any education institutions.  Kerala government had earlier banned e-cigarette. 
 

Also read: Kerala govt bans e cigarette
 

Singh also informed that the crack down on trafficking of tobacco, ganja and other drugs will continue. The Excise Department led an operation on Sunday in the labour camps of Perumbavoor and Aluva in Ernakulam district and seized 4,000 kilos of tobacco and drugs. As many as 21 persons were taken into custody in the raid. 

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