What is the age limit approved in COTPA bill for the sale of tobacco products and cigarettes in approved packing?

Appeared in: GMCH Chandigarh - 2019

Explanation

The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, is the primary legislation governing tobacco control in India.
Section 6(a) of the COTPA Act explicitly prohibits the sale of cigarettes or any other tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18.
This law aims to protect minors from the health hazards associated with tobacco use by restricting their access to these products.

Option A: This age is incorrect. The national law, COTPA 2003, uniformly sets the minimum age at 18 across India to protect adolescents.
Option C: This is the legal age for tobacco purchase in some other countries, such as the United States (under the federal 'Tobacco 21' law). In India, the legal age remains 18 under the current COTPA Act.
Option D: This age is not stipulated as the legal minimum for tobacco purchase in India. It is significantly higher than the standard established by the COTPA Act.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Legal age limit for tobacco sales under the COTPA Act, 2003 as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
As community health advocates, nurses play a crucial role in educating adolescents and the public about the COTPA regulations, including the legal age of sale.
Nurses should actively participate in school health programs and community awareness campaigns to highlight the dangers of tobacco and the legal consequences of underage purchase and use.
What if? If a nurse observes a shopkeeper repeatedly selling tobacco to minors near a school, the appropriate action is not just to counsel the children but to report the violation to local law enforcement or designated health authorities for legal action under COTPA.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: it asks for a specific legal fact (age limit) from a specific law (COTPA bill).
Recognize this as a factual recall question related to public health legislation in India.
Scan the options, which are all different ages.
Recall the key provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.
Focus on the section related to the sale of tobacco to minors to find the correct age.
Select the option that matches the age specified in the Act, which is 18 years.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart C (pp 404-604 of 604) p. 162-164

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