Smokers fume in Bangalore

Union health minister Ramadoss has made life tough for smokers. Yesterday, the day the smoking ban came into effect, I was looking around to see if anyone was lighting up. I spotted four people smoking. Mainly youngsters, on the pavement.

The cigarette vendor at the kiosk won't let you smoke there. He will tell you to move away and smoke. That's something he has never done. He doesn't want other people standing nearby to be affected by smoke. Okay, he couldn't do this before. He had to have Ramadoss tell that first.

Road is the only place you can smoke. That's bad. Imagine passersby. Wouldn't they be affected? He should have allowed special, separate smoking zones in pubs, bars and restaurants and other such other places where people get together. Imagine having a drink without a smoke! Okay let him have educative posters and similar warnings there. Next time I visit the pub, I don't know how it's going to be...