JAMMU, April 19: In a significant move aimed at safeguarding public health, especially among the youth, the district administration of Doda in Jammu and Kashmir has imposed an immediate ban on the storage, sale, display, and distribution of the smokeless tobacco product known as ‘Cool Lip.’ The decision was announced on Saturday by Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Anil Kumar Thakur, who described it as a decisive and preventive step to counter the growing health risks associated with the use of this product among school-going children.
According to an official spokesperson, the administration acted in response to increasing concerns over the widespread availability and consumption of Cool Lip—a filtered tobacco-based product—by minors. Reports and on-ground inspections revealed that pouches of the product were being openly sold in the vicinity of schools and other educational institutions, raising alarm over its accessibility to children and adolescents.
The ADM’s order underscores the serious implications that such tobacco products pose to oral and general health, particularly when consumed at a young age. Authorities noted a disturbing rise in addiction tendencies and associated health issues among students in the region, directly linked to the usage of smokeless tobacco products like Cool Lip.
The prohibition has been enforced under various legal provisions, including relevant sections of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011, which explicitly prohibit the use of tobacco and nicotine as ingredients in any food product. The ban is also in alignment with earlier state-level restrictions issued under SRO 68 dated March 6, 2013, from the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state.
Furthermore, the ADM exercised his authority under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to implement the ban with immediate effect and declared that it would remain in force until further orders are issued.
To ensure the effective enforcement of the directive, the district administration has instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Chief Education Officer (CEO), Tehsildars, Naib-Tehsildars, and all designated food safety officers to carry out rigorous monitoring and take strict action against any violations of the order.
The administration has emphasized that this initiative reflects its unwavering commitment to public health, particularly the well-being of children and adolescents, and is part of a broader strategy to curb the consumption of harmful substances within the district. The move has been widely welcomed by parents, educators, and health officials, who view it as a much-needed step to combat the early onset of tobacco addiction among youth in the region.