Thrissur has been declared a tobacco-free district.
Addressing a function organised at the Thrissur Town Hall on Thursday in this connection, Therambil Ramakrishnan, MLA, said that effective awareness programmes were needed against all kinds of drugs and liquor.
“The campaign against social evils such as abuse of drugs, liquor and tobacco products should not be stopped with this declaration. It is the beginning of a larger fight. We should be vigilant against many new tobacco products coming into the market,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Alcohol and substance abuse is prevalent among school students. There is an increasing need to be vigilant against anti-social elements who try to hook adolescents, he said. Along with the use of tobacco, there will be restrictions on advertisement for tobacco products in the district.
The considerable decline in the use of tobacco products in the district was the result of an intensive campaign by the district administration in association with various departments including health, education, local administration, excise and police for the past one year, according to official sources.
A survey conducted by the NSS unit of the Thrissur St. Thomas College indicated a noticeable decline in the use of tobacco products in the district.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was against the backdrop of this survey that the district was declared a tobacco-free district.
Recently, while addressing a function here at the Thrissur Excise Academy, Excise Minister K. Babu said that anti-narcotic clubs would be formed in all colleges in the State. He said the government was committed to curbing abuse of alcohol and narcotic drugs among the youth. He said that there had been a 25 per cent dip in liquor sale in the past year. No hotel has been given licence for running bars in the past 11 months.