Indian government bans smoking in new films and TV serials
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After weeks of debate over a proposal from the health ministry, the Indian government has decided to ban the portrayal of smoking in new films. Consumer groups and doctors have welcomed the move.
The ban on the portrayal of smoking or other uses of tobacco, announced by the information and broadcasting ministry last week, will apply to films and television serials produced after 2 October 2005.
Citing studies of how films influence attitudes to tobacco among young people, the health ministry had originally proposed a ban on the use of tobacco in all films and television serials.
But the government has decided that the use of tobacco will be banned only in new productions. Cinemas playing old films will need to display on their screens statutory warnings about the harmful effects of tobacco.
It has also ruled that television channels will have to scroll statutory warnings across screens each time the use of tobacco is shown in a serial.
Actor Amitabh Bachchan is pictured playing the eccentric policeman Dashrath Singh, who has a passion for smoking bidis
"We're happy the government has recognised the seriousness of the problem and decided to act," said Mr Bejon Misra, chairman of the Consumer Coordination Council, a coalition of consumer groups.
Legislation passed last year prohibits smoking in public places and bans direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products. But consumer groups have expressed concern that tobacco companies are using films to promote tobacco and even brands.
India has an estimated 250 million tobacco users, but just 14% use cigarettes. The rest smoke unfiltered "bidis" or chew tobacco.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has estimated that 800 000 people die from causes related to tobacco consumption each year and has been urging policy initiatives to curb consumption.
Two years ago a study for the World Health Organization of 335 films produced in India between 1991 and 2002 found that 76% had scenes depicting the use of tobacco. Smoking by "good guys" in films had increased from 22% in 1991 to 53% in 2002, and tobacco brand names were clearly visible in some scenes, the study found.
One film maker interviewed for the study said that his company had turned down tobacco companies that had approached it. "But there are needy producers who would do anything for money," he was quoted as saying.
Film makers have decried the ban, saying it will impinge on their creative freedom. But doctors have argued that tobacco consumption by characters is not critical to storylines.
"A talented director or actor doesn't need a cigarette to depict a debonair hero, a menacing villain, or a liberated woman," said Dr K Srinath Reddy, head of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian representative at the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.(Ganapati Mudur)
The ban on the portrayal of smoking or other uses of tobacco, announced by the information and broadcasting ministry last week, will apply to films and television serials produced after 2 October 2005.
Citing studies of how films influence attitudes to tobacco among young people, the health ministry had originally proposed a ban on the use of tobacco in all films and television serials.
But the government has decided that the use of tobacco will be banned only in new productions. Cinemas playing old films will need to display on their screens statutory warnings about the harmful effects of tobacco.
It has also ruled that television channels will have to scroll statutory warnings across screens each time the use of tobacco is shown in a serial.
Actor Amitabh Bachchan is pictured playing the eccentric policeman Dashrath Singh, who has a passion for smoking bidis
"We're happy the government has recognised the seriousness of the problem and decided to act," said Mr Bejon Misra, chairman of the Consumer Coordination Council, a coalition of consumer groups.
Legislation passed last year prohibits smoking in public places and bans direct and indirect advertisements of tobacco products. But consumer groups have expressed concern that tobacco companies are using films to promote tobacco and even brands.
India has an estimated 250 million tobacco users, but just 14% use cigarettes. The rest smoke unfiltered "bidis" or chew tobacco.
The Indian Council of Medical Research has estimated that 800 000 people die from causes related to tobacco consumption each year and has been urging policy initiatives to curb consumption.
Two years ago a study for the World Health Organization of 335 films produced in India between 1991 and 2002 found that 76% had scenes depicting the use of tobacco. Smoking by "good guys" in films had increased from 22% in 1991 to 53% in 2002, and tobacco brand names were clearly visible in some scenes, the study found.
One film maker interviewed for the study said that his company had turned down tobacco companies that had approached it. "But there are needy producers who would do anything for money," he was quoted as saying.
Film makers have decried the ban, saying it will impinge on their creative freedom. But doctors have argued that tobacco consumption by characters is not critical to storylines.
"A talented director or actor doesn't need a cigarette to depict a debonair hero, a menacing villain, or a liberated woman," said Dr K Srinath Reddy, head of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and Indian representative at the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control.(Ganapati Mudur)