Currently there are debates and controversies about Chinese invasion of the market, whether to privatize or not, open the market to competition or not. How to cope with e-commerce, how to race with technological and scientific innovativeness, how to exercise rights and meet responsibilities, deal with corruption and get good governance. There are always pending and new bills in any session of the parliament. In short we are all beset with the difficulty of being savvy consumers and exemplary citizens, all in one go.

Currently the bill that is causing 'Big Fights', is the tobacco bill, which if passed, is expected to contain the tobacco menace on some fronts as well as to protect rights of consumers to good health and a safe environment. The tobacco problem is so pervasive and invasive that almost any sign on behalf of the Government, that it is at all awake to the issue, is welcome. The present proposed bans on smoking in public places and advertising in and for various fora are a good beginning. Both concern the question of visibility for an addiction needs to be banished from the life of consumers. The tobacco lobby ofcourse is pretending to all out and bid for a comprehensive ban IF at all. This is a good attempt at fudging the issue because they know that there are just too many interests involved to even think of a comprehensive ban as a workable option and that it is safely doomed from its inception. They also know how important advertising and visibility are to addictive habits like tobacco and alcohol, therefore they are crying foul at the very suggestion of the possibility of such a ban coming through. It is ofcourse being argued that there is no point in banning advertising as it is not the issue at stake. Well if it isn't then why does the industry spend millions on the exercise? They are also ridiculing the NGOs for daring to assume the moral high ground where tobacco is concerned. This too is double speak, because the industry does the same by trying to appropriate positive ground for promoting an absolutely immoral product. Courage, togetherness, youthfulness, achievement, sensitivity, are all attributes that the industry tries to project subliminally, while advertising for tobacco. The advertisements say that tobacco users are caring individuals, who are sensitive and brave, accomplished, well dressed, beautiful and able to afford a life style which is the envy and fantasy of any and everyone.

The events it seeks to advertise for, or through, are those projected as good, clean fun occasions where masses congregate to view and to be entertained, cutting across all boundaries. There is so much money at stake and the advertisers do such a good job that these events get identified with tobacco and / or alcohol brands in consumer minds. The links that get established and the signals, which get picked up and sent round the world, are definitely floating on tobacco smoke or riding the alcohol wave. The haze that results is all enveloping. Consumers are unable to ever disentangle fun and frolic, high spirits and good times from tobacco, alcohol and the resultant death and mayhem. We hope for the sake of, and on behalf of all consumers, old and young, that the parliament for once acts unanimously in passing the bill. We also bring you some suggestions on how to kick the habit and quit smoking. Our tests this time cover small but important products of every day use like fan regulators, voltage stabilizers and batteries. We hope our buying tips help our readers.

We look forward to your responses and suggestions for future reading. We wish everyone a Happy and safe Holi !