crusher7 writes: The last country in the world to turn on television (it was introduced in 1999) may be the first nation to ban smoking. The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has outlawed cigarettes in 18 of its 20 districts, and hopes to break the habit completely by the end of the year.
The Independent reports that government officials are concerned not only about the physical health of its citizens (the life expectancy for men is 62), but also their spiritual health. According to the director of Bhutan’s health department, people in this deeply religious Buddhist country consider smoking a sin.
The ban isn’t limited to tobacco cigarettes. The Independent notes that the people of Bhutan have discovered “uses other than as pig fodder for the cannabis that grows freely in its hills.”
by Lisa Schneider
Tags: Features
