The recent optimistic measures undertaken by Srinagar Policing towards public health by mitigating smoking in public areas is praiseworthy. It is the attempt to reduce the risks associated with exposure of secondhand smoke.
Mitigating exposure to cigarette smoking, and particularly public smoking, has been important in trying to contain the damage public smoking and passive smoking and even third hand smoking can have on the public health system.
Concerned enforcement legislation has gone much further than just serving as an example of the government’s commitment to the health and well-being of the native population.
The ripple effects of secondary smoking are extremely harmful to health, starting with breathing issues, heart related conditions, and in advanced cases, can be the root cause of cancer.
Monitoring of the compliance of public smoking legislation is taken to action in a proactive manner by law enforcement agencies in Srinagar, with a large number of citizens having participated, following the punitive measures that were put in place by the Jammu-Kashmir police that targeted public areas including markets, parks, and schools.
It has been evaluated that rather than just issuing fines, the police put more emphasis on school campaigns to promote social smoking etiquette in designated places.
Such a measure regarding cigarette smoke has been extremely important in controlling the harmful health effects associated with environmental exposure to both passive and third-hand smoke.
The police have been assessed that they issue fines, not just randomly but also have awareness campaigns in schools to allow socially responsible smoking around areas.
The policy recognizes that banning smoking is not just about imposing penalties, but it is more a matter of educating healthy and aware citizenry. Besides, it also conforms to the international efforts which are there to reduce tobacco consumption.
The main step police need to take in combating smoking in public places is to adopt the existing measures being practiced across the globe.