Two new anti-tobacco advertisements released

The government Tuesday released two new anti-tobacco advertisement spots which would be screened in films whenever smoking scenes are depicted.

"It will be mandatory for cinema halls to prominently display these spots whenever smoking scenes are shown as part of the movie from Oct 2," C.K. Mishra, additional secretary, health ministry, said releasing the advertisement spots here.

"Since Oct 2 marks the completion of five years of implementation of smoke-free laws in India, the launch of these two spots reinforces the government's emphasis on the issue of second hand smoke and implementation of smoke-free policies," he said.

The new advertisement spots, "Child" and "Dhuan" (smoke), warn of the negative effects smoking has on health and the destruction second hand smoke can cause. They also list the penalties that those violating the law against public smoking can face.

The spots have been developed by the World Lung Foundation.

The new spots will replace the earlier advertisements "Mukesh" and "Sponge" depicting the harm that smokeless and smoked forms of tobacco can do.

The anti-tobacco health spots and disclaimers are being provided by the health ministry as per the "Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act (COTPA)" rules.

Globally, approximately six million people die each year of diseases caused by tobacco consumption.