Experts are backing over the counter access to nicotine replacement therapy in all formats and dosages, including 2 mg and 4 mg, as India’s tobacco quit success rate remains under 5%. The report also flags the heavy financial toll of tobacco on low-income households, arguing that cutting consumption can improve welfare and boost economic mobility.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a law barring cigarette sales to anyone born after January 1, 2009. He argues the measure will create a “smoke-free generation” by legally blocking future access to tobacco. Ramadoss points to India’s heavy toll of tobacco-related deaths and diseases as the reason for the proposal.
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A new analysis suggests that quitting tobacco could improve the economic prospects of more than 20.5 million households across India. The biggest benefits are expected among the most disadvantaged, especially in rural areas, where health and spending shifts can translate into faster income growth. Middle-income families may also see meaningful gains as costs fall and productivity rises.
The UK has escalated its anti-smoking push after Parliament passed the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. Under the plan, people born after December 31, 2008 would be barred from ever legally buying cigarettes. Campaigners call it a decisive step toward ending smoking, while critics warn about enforcement and the long-term impact on rights and black-market sales.
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