Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (MM/SP)

Bangalore, Oct 6: The State Tobacco Control Board has decided to take strict action against the institutions/organizations which do not implement the tobacco ban properly.

This decision was taken at a meeting of the Tobacco Control Board and other senior officers of the state recently. The meeting decided to give the power to the local bodies to cancel the licences of the restaurants, hotels or other institutions that fail to implement the tobacco ban effectively. The board has decided to punish the institutions which fail to educate and exercise control over the customers. Tobacco ban will be implemented especially in the premises of the educational institutions and the resorts that fall under the tourism department.

Meanwhile, the restaurants consisting of 30 rooms, as well as those having 30 or more seats, have been told to arrange separate smoking zones. Tobacco control cells will be formed in the offices of all the deputy commissioners in the state, within 15 days to monitor the implementation of the tobacco control measures.