Shillong, Nov.14: The Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills District, Nongstoin has prohibited the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to any person who is under eighteen years of age, at the market place and in an area within a radius of one hundred yards of any educational institution and vendors and shopkeepers where tobacco products are sold, shall display a notice containing the warning “Sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to a person under the age of eighteen years is strictly prohibited and is a punishable offence”.

The order has been issued in view of the violation of section 6 of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COPTA), which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to minors, that is below 18 years of age.
Any person who contravenes the provisions of section 6 shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and shall be punishable with fine.