Legislation prohibiting smoking in public places and at work in India has encouraged fewer people to smoke at home, according to a recent study published online first in Tobacco Control.1

In 2008, the Indian government banned smoking in workplaces and other public places to protect people from second hand smoke. However, section 4 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003 allows designated smoking areas in places such as hotels, and breaching the law attracts only a small fine of about 200 rupees (£2.40; €2.82; $3.65).

Researchers from the United Kingdom, United States, and India looked at data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) in India 2009-10 and found that adults who reported that their workplace was smoke free were more likely to have smoke free homes.

Read the entire article by Dr. Soumyadeep B at British Medical Journal