Engulfed in smoke

In 2010, Sikkim stood as a beacon of progress, becoming India’s first smoke-free state. Its triumph was hailed as a model for public health, driven by the visionary enforcement of the Sikkim Prohibition of Smoking and Non-Smokers’ Health Protection Act (1997) and later strengthened by the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) in 2008. Yet today, this pioneering achievement lies in tatters, eclipsed by rising smoking in public places and vaping trends, especially among young teens.

What went wrong? The state's initial zeal, embodied in strict enforcement, awareness campaigns, and public participation, has given way to apathy. Public spaces once free of tobacco smoke are now choking under its resurgence. Worse, the younger generation—Gen Z and Gen Alpha—is glamorizing smoking and vaping, fueled by social media trends that package these habits as "cool" and aspirational. This alarming rise is not just a societal shift but a public health catastrophe in the making.

Social media has played a sinister role in normalizing smoking and vaping among teens. Platforms saturated with influencers flaunting sleek e-cigarettes and cigarette aesthetics perpetuate a dangerous narrative. Teenagers, impressionable and eager to align with perceived global trends, are lured into believing that these habits signify independence, sophistication, or rebellion. Vaping, in particular, is falsely marketed as a safer alternative, obscuring its nicotine addiction and long-term health risks.

Sikkim has failed to shield its youth from these influences. The absence of sustained anti-smoking campaigns and the waning enforcement of no-smoking zones expose glaring lapses in policy execution. Schools and community organizations, which should be at the forefront of preventive education, remain largely passive.

The resurgence of tobacco use is more than a blow to public health policies; it’s an affront to Sikkim’s citizens. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of respiratory ailments, heart disease, and even tuberculosis. The glamourization of smoking and vaping among teens threatens to anchor lifelong habits, burdening the healthcare system and derailing future generations.

Sikkim's smoke-free success of 2010 proves that reversing these trends is possible. The state must reclaim its leadership in public health by taking bold steps: strengthening the implementation of the smoking ban by deploying regular inspections and imposing hefty fines on violators, launching awareness drives that resonate with teenagers to debunk the myths of "coolness" associated with smoking and vaping, counteracting pro-smoking content on social media with relatable influencers and campaigns showcasing the benefits of a smoke-free lifestyle, and empowering schools, parents, and local leaders to foster environments where tobacco use is actively discouraged.

The government of Sikkim must act decisively to preserve the hard-earned title of a smoke-free state. More importantly, it must safeguard its youth from the insidious grip of smoking and vaping trends. By addressing policy complacency and leveraging the tools of modern advocacy, Sikkim can once again breathe life into its smoke-free legacy.