Feature: Bhutan to celebrate World No Tobacco Day amid rise in youth tobacco users

While countries across the world will be celebrating or marking"World Tobacco control day"on May 31, Bhutan is set to celebrate "World No Tobacco Day"on June 15 coinciding with the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava.

This year is the birth year of Guru Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpochee, a tantric master who was believed to have born from lotus and made a sacred visit to Bhutan in 8th century and introduced Buddhism in Bhutan.

Officials with the Bhutan Narcotics Control Authority (BNCA) told Xinhua that the day would be marked with celebrations in five districts across the country. In the capital city, the day would be celebrated with a marathon and other celebrations at the city's clock tower including an entertainment program.

In regional districts of Phuentsholing, Paro, Gelephu and Samdrupjongkhar, a door-to-door campaign would be conducted on effects of tobacco, officials said. This is to help people abide by the Tobacco Control Act.

Following the doctrines of Guru Padmasambhava and also from health point of view, Bhutan has since long tried to ban Tobacco consumption. In 2005, it also passed a law that allowed police sweeping powers to enter homes and search for tobacco products.

In January 2010, the first democratically elected government enacted the Bhutan tobacco control Act 2010. A few months later, the tobacco ban made headlines at both regional and international level, especially when a 24-year old Buddhist monk was jailed for three years. He was charged under fourth degree felony and carried a sentence from three to five years, after being caught with 72 packets of chewing tobacco.

The monk was the first person to be charged under tobacco legislation passed in January, which prohibits consuming and smuggling tobacco. As per the Bhutan Tobacco Control Act 2010, smokers can legally import only up to 200 cigarettes or 150 grams of other tobacco products a month. They must provide a customs receipt when challenged by police.

The arrest of the monk has raised immense controversy. But following his arrest, police along with law enforcing agencies started constant and sudden check that led to arrest of countless number of tobacco smugglers. The majority were sentenced to three years in jail.

Following public roar, the act was tabled for amendment in 2013. In 2014, the act came into effect as Tobacco Control Amended Act of Bhutan 2014.

The amended Act states that if a person possesses tobacco or tobacco products more than four times the permissible quantity, he or she shall be punished with felony of the fourth degree.

Maximum permissible quantity for import of tobacco or tobacco products for personal consumption was revised. The revised law stated that one could bring in 300 sticks of cigarettes, 400 bidi, 50 cigar and 250 grams of other tobacco products.

However, it stated that if a person was found possessing or transporting any tobacco or tobacco products within the permissible quantity, but without declaring or paying taxes, he or she would be fined 10,000 Nu. And several other offenses and penalties follow suit. The Act also mandates all commercial centres, recreation centres, institutions, public gatherings and transportations to have designated non-smoking areas, mainly to protect non-smokers.

The amended Tobacco control Act 2014 stated that no person should smoke outside the designated smoking areas in public places including public transportation. Officials said the objective of the inspection is not to impose fine but to make people aware that smoking in public places is a violation of law.

To enforce the Act strictly, Bhutan narcotics control agency carried out a series of surprise inspections along with other law enforcement agencies. Since then, officials said three smokers were fined every hour for violating the Act.

Although the tobacco ban helped in educating people about health risk and made a good head way to reduce tobacco users in general especially in public places, but the ban failed to prevent young smokers.

A global youth tobacco survey in 2013 has found that usage of tobacco among youth in Bhutan is on increasing. The survey stated that Bhutan has highest prevalence of tobacco users among students not just at regional but global level. This came as alarming for enforcement officials and pushed them to call for strict enforcement of tobacco control laws.

Survey has found that the use of smokeless tobacco and other tobacco product has increased from 9.4 percent in 2009 to 21.6 percent in 2013, and from 18.8 percent in 2009 to 30.3 percent in 2013 respectively.

The global youth tobacco survey has portrayed an overwhelming involvement of Bhutanese youth in tobacco consumption, which poses serious public health concerns in years to come.

Health officials said although the Tobacco control Act 2010 strictly prohibits sale of any tobacco products in the country, there's still a thriving black market for tobacco.

In 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO) regional director for South East Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, has even called for strict enforcement of tobacco control laws especially banning sale of tobacco products. Endit