Maharashtra bans sale of loose cigarettes and beedis

Sale of loose cigarettes across Maharashtra has been banned. The Maharashtra government decided to ban the sale of loose cigarette and beedis.

Thus, if smokers want to buy cigarettes, they need to buy the whole packet of these items now. The reason stated is these single stick loose cigarettes or beedis do not have the precise health warning on it which is in the public interest.

The State government has declared a notification in this regard, in the public interest. This has been issued under subsection (2) of section 7 of the cigarette and other Tobacco Products (prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and commerce Production, supply and Distribution) Act, 2OO3 (Act No. 34 of 2OO3). Health Minister Rajesh Tope informed that the health department would take all preventive measures to keep the youth away from drugs.

However, this move not gone well with both the trades as well as the consumer. “Not everyone can have enough money to purchase the whole packet. Also, the prices of cigarette packets have gone up. Now this move will now reduce our sale,” said a vendor who has a shop in Pune.

The central government had earlier banned the production and sale of e-cigarettes. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the decision on September 19, 2019. E-cigarettes were seen as an alternative to smoking; However, the ban was imposed on it as well.