Smoking ban
Just finished watching an awesome Interview of Anbumani Ramadoss where he was literally drilled down to embarrassment by invincible Karan Thapar. The boiling topic of discussion was ‘Smoking ban’ which has been discussed since ages. Many discussions have never ending solutions and this is one of them, I guess. The discussion was shot in 3 sessions where first 2 session were purely political issues and last one was related to films. I remember those college days when the so called “Smoking ban at public places” came to my notice. Non-smokers were really excited to see the implementation and it was a loud roar around. Lots of hype and hoopla about the law was the reason for satisfactory smile. People felt that this law would help bring down the number of smokers around them. But, few months after the rule being made, everything thing seemed to be normal. Normal in the sense – every public place was considered private and smokers were like God (omnipresent). So, where did the law disappear all of a sudden? Did a stupid fine of 200 bucks for smoking in public really forced people to obey the law? Sorry Govt, but No, it really didn’t help. Coz, till date I don’t think that people have a clear cut idea of what exactly a public place is! Many people still make their home everywhere. This law was made few years back (I still remember).
Now, govt. is trying to intensify the law by adding some more stringent rules. ‘Intensify’ – I hope I’m using a right word. In short, they are trying to make the law more spicy ‘n hot. The law will focus not just on decreasing the count of smokers in public places but also it’ll help in scaring people about the disadvantages of smoking. As far as I know, very few smokers starts their cigarette/beedi habit without knowing the after-effects of it. Almost 99% of people know about it. But, the solution of ‘pictorial warnings’ is something very effective. I mean, it really scares the hell outta you, when you see pictures of your rotten lungs. Also, pictures of your lungs as an Ash Tray. It wouldn’t stop smokers immediately, but for sure they will think twice about it. It is scary!
The law is trying to take children into account too. Kids doesn’t know how bad a smoke is. I appreciate it and need to be done as quickly as possible. But, how are they gonna do it ? Well, Ramadoss has publicly appealed SRK, Amitabh Bacchan and other celebrities not to smoke on Big screen. The reason is that children see it and follow. What !!!! Gimme a break!
Having said that the smoking ban in films is not possible as people are mature enuf to understand the disadvantages of it, now they have narrowed down the category to small kids. But they make sure that films and celebs are targeted. I guess smoking ban in films isn’t an appreciable idea though. I know children follow their fav stars but it’s not just smoking, Cmon!. It can be anything and everything shown in a movie. Now, are you gonna stop showing guns in movies coz the kid next door has shot someone’s ass! Or, may be stop showing a kiss on screen coz the kid next door has become a serial kisser and running behind girls for a kiss. Or, if that isn’t enuf then may be stop showing a movie altogether so that a child is safe. Remember the incidents where a kid tried a superman/shaktiman’s stunt and killed himself. This isn’t way too far away from smoking. A child will follow whatever he sees on screen. It’s our duty to regulate the screening in such a way that a child is kept away for it till the time he gets mature. SRK has bluntly turned down Ramadoss’s appeal as films do need some creative liberty. We can’t go on banning every other smoking scene in the movie. Movies are all about creative freedom and it shouldn’t be sacrificed unnecessarily. Rather we should make sure a cigarette doesn’t reach a child by strict laws. Under-age restrictions shouldn’t be just for the heck of it. They come into effect only if followed religiously.
Also the next spicy part of this law is that it’s gonna ban smoking in every public place. To my surprise, Ramadoss said that the law wouldn’t spare even Hotels, Pubs, bars and discos. What!!!! again ! Gimme a long break now for God’s sake. Now I don’t understand this. Does that mean, a smoker should only smoke at his home. I am not speaking “for” smoking but then where will a smoker smoke?What about all those pub parties?? Now, I am really confused!! You are banning smoking at every place where it should be allowed, saying that it’s a public place. Then you say that a smoker can smoke at home and the very next moment you say that you will use pictorial warnings to scare people away from smoking. So, do you mean that you are going to scare a person to an extent that he stays at home and smoke? Then what about those smokers who have kids at home and can’t smoke outside???? LOL! it means that they are doomed to death or they can think of smoking with their kids 
. So, now why don’t govt bans cigarette sale altogether? Why is it taking so long for us to implement some strict rules? Why is it still enjoying the revenue generated by it?? May be it’s our benefit in some way or the other.
Never ending discussion, isn’t it?
nitin said,
February 1, 2008 at 1:44 pm
hmmmm..
Interesting story..Even i think ban on smoking on silver screen will serve the purpose.But putting hoardings of scary mutilated lungs or mouth cancer is an effective and very innovative thought to implement.
I cannot imagine Sanjay Dutt widout smoking on the screen.Is sharukh the only star will cool smoking style?.Gimme a brk.
On July 1st 2007, England introduced a new law to make virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England smokefree.Just have a look at this article.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/06/03/nsmoke03.xml
So our minister is not the only insane creature suggesting washingout of smokers from the city.The UK government too had sailed on the same boat . I don’t know if the rule still holds in the UK.
Joe Camel said,
February 1, 2008 at 1:46 pm
I once had an exchange with a smart britches lawyer who asked”what right do you have to stink up the common air supply?” My answer was
“I have the same rights that any other stinker does. Smoke is one of a hundred smells and better than most.”
Well you can’t argue with corrupt politicians in the service of the World Health Organization. They want to ignore the fact that a Smokeeter
leaves the air sweeter than outdoors. If they didn’t, they’d have no reason fior a ban.
So there’s nothing to discuss.
‘
Anoop said,
February 1, 2008 at 2:29 pm
@nitin
I guess, u meant to say, “Even i think ban on smoking on silver screen will >not< serve the purpose”. You forgot the ‘not’, didn’t u ?
Coz I’m against the smoking ban in films. I don’t wanna miss actors like Sanjay dutt and especially ‘Ajay devgan’ without a smoke puff in films. SRK looks cool too. Yet to read the article which you linked.
But, gradually washing out smokers is a good idea, just that the idea shouldn’t be left as ‘just an idea’…need to see some progress…
Anoop said,
February 1, 2008 at 2:36 pm
@Joe Camel
Good and ’straight to the point’ perspective though. But arguing is what a common man does when he doesn’t know what effect a particular law is trying to make. Is govt trying to discourage smoking? or just getting away with a law ‘n bans for the heck of it. ?
nitin said,
February 1, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Dude..just go through the article and its interesting comments..
yo man, i forgot that “not”.Government overseas are banning it for the good of the society..Those comments are with some realtime examples..
Sha said,
February 1, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Yeah, they’ve got a smoking ban here now in place and they really do enforce it. Does mean now I can breath when ever I enter a pub and stuff so highly appreciated. Oh and hopefully I should be back now! Less work yay!
Amit said,
February 1, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Quite an interesting debate. Me too really feel there’s no point running behind smokers in films. There are far more socially dangerous things shown in movies. If u start banning each and everything, day is not far movies would no longer be different from lifeless documentaries.
mark harris said,
February 1, 2008 at 11:03 pm
I agree with Amit.Where do you draw the line with this type of censorship,of course there is far worse being shown than smoking,are we going to start not showing older films,take them off the rental store shelves,burn them?
Anoop said,
February 2, 2008 at 12:59 pm
@nitin
yo mayn! Read the article and its fundu comments. It’s all about saving the world from Charsi like us…lol
@sha
They have the ban where?? You r in UK rite ?? and ya, come back full time here…haven’t seen much of ur writings these days…
@Amit
‘Lifeless documentaries’…oh yes that’s what we would call ‘em. Movies is all about creativity and all hypothetical stuff(sometimes) which you never wanna try in real life. So, the ban is useless. Welcome here Amit !
@Mark
yes very true, There are lot other stuffs which can affect kids and we can’t go on banning everything.. ! The more the censorship, more people will get attracted and be curious about it. Welcome Mark !
Sha said,
February 2, 2008 at 2:25 pm
@Anoop. Yep. In the UK. No smoking in public places, basically defined as pubs, resturants or working places etc. You can smoke in your own home and outside outside. And Lol. I’m trying to come back full time. My writing is slowly coming back up too. I did a post yesterday on a book.
Sam said,
February 3, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I cant even begin to imagine that any rule that comes into effect (after a ruckus in the Parliament, some major chair hurling sessions in Lok/Rajya Sabha n all) will be implemented n above all respected in our country! For that matter even by the most silliest of all parrots!!! Any individual, even with an average amount of intelligence n IQ level, can comprehend the disastrous effects of a ciggie… But being the GOOD DEMOCRATIC govt. (yeah.. sure… YAWWWWNNN) that we have, they have made a law (just another one). So if u love ur lungs, stop smoking. No need for ppl to make n break laws. Else, its upto that smoker to make an AGARBATTI stand out of his lungs!
mark said,
February 3, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Hi Anoop,thanks for the welcome.
Sha said,
February 4, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Gah. The Aussies have done it again and are bloody hypocritical!
Anoop said,
February 5, 2008 at 2:03 am
@Sam
We need speakers like you who could speak right on the face of Govt ..lol. Well said Sam. We do have such millions of laws coming up every now and then, followed by a roar and then they vanish like a smoke of a cigar. U know why…? coz, some law makers themselves can’t do without a puff of smoke !!..lol…
@Sha
What are you referring too? Tri Series?? ya, but i do agree with you on the ‘bloody hypocritical’ part !!
Rajesh said,
February 5, 2008 at 7:46 am
Hey anup no matter wat laws are enforced on the people, they are not going to abscond their habit of smoking in public places. They know it’s India man where every now and then a new law is made but no ones gonna follow it.
Forget about law dear why Government should care about such people who do not care about themselves, are those people so dumb that they do not know the drawback of smoking and how really nonsmokers suffers when they are smoking in public places .
Sha said,
February 5, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Yep the tri series. Their own people have thrown an egg at one of our bowlers face.
Sha said,
February 5, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Question…what is it with people not understand the right to free speech and then not reading your blog entry before calling you a moron?
Anoop said,
February 5, 2008 at 11:11 pm
@Rajesh
Yes it’s damn right. People are matured enuf to take the responsibility of their lives. Govt can’t help much. Even if Govt bans it on earth, people can travel to different planets to have a puff. But anyways, we need some good rules to make them understand their foolishness.
@Sha
I see what you mean… !! The middle name of these people is ‘Moron’. They follow Newton’s 4 th law – i.e : “They run around a tree with a speed greater than that of light and kick their own ass”. lol…….haha !…
Sam said,
February 6, 2008 at 3:17 am
I so love that 4th law!! LOLzzzzzzzzz…… U got anymore? Mail ‘em across…. shamram1924@gmail.com…….
Anoop said,
February 6, 2008 at 3:39 am
@Sam
I have an awesome 5th law. But it is too explicit. Wat say? Shall I shoot it to ur gmail ?
Sam said,
February 6, 2008 at 8:59 am
Neki aur pooch pooch??!!!!!!!!
Anoop said,
February 6, 2008 at 8:12 pm
@Sam
Sent it to your gmail. Hope you liked it !
Sam said,
February 7, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Replied too! hope u understood what i said……..
Anamika said,
February 12, 2008 at 8:38 am
London/UK went smoke free on July 1st 2007. Although the pubs and hotels are now thankfully smokefree, but their doorsteps are not. So every restaurant and pub now has this group of smokers hanging around its doors, puffing away to glory.
If a non-smoker thought that they would not have to inhale smoke, guess again. While entering such establishments, you woukd inhale concentrated smoke!
However as a non smoker, I still applaud the UK government for upholding the right to clean air (for non smokers).
Anoop said,
February 15, 2008 at 1:50 am
@ Anamika
Look who’s here! Anamika..
I dunno, but have heard from a lot of folks about the ban n UK. They were serious about it and has implemented it effectively. But, you can’t escape from the smoke unless you ban a cigarette altogether ! isn’t it? Btw, what’s the fine for violating the law?