No chocolates, cold drinks at cigarette shops
The beetle shop owners who are selling tobacco products cannot sell non-tobacco products like chocolates from the same counter. Moreover, they have to take license from civic body to sell tobacco products. As per orders issued by department of urban development and housing on the last week of September, those selling tobacco products cannot sell any of the non-tobacco products from the counter. Tobacco products sellers will have to follow the norms of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 and its violation of the same will lead into deep trouble,” health officer Dr Amit Malakar said.
On the question of selling of non-tobacco products at tobacco shops, Dr Malakar said, “A joint team of health department and Indore Municipal Corporation will take action against errant shop owners. We will spread awareness among shop owners about the Act and will request them to follow the norms initially.” The health officer said that smoking is prohibited at hotels, hostel, restaurants and other public places and they will have to prepare a separate room for it. “We will also launch a drive again for prohibiting public smoking with the help of IMC soon,” Malakar said.