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  Maharashtra to curb sale of cough syrup

Maharashtra to curb sale of cough syrup

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Dec 18, 2015, 12:59 am IST
Updated : Dec 18, 2015, 12:59 am IST

The government on Thursday said that it would take all the necessary steps to stop the use of cough syrups by youngsters to get high.

Girish Bapat
 Girish Bapat

The government on Thursday said that it would take all the necessary steps to stop the use of cough syrups by youngsters to get high. The government will take action against chemists who sell cough syrups without doctors’ prescription, food and civil supply minister Girish Bapat said in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a calling attention motion moved by the leader of opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Mr Bapat said laboratory tests have not revealed any duplicate or spurious cough syrups. However, the minister admitted that overuse of cough syrup could be harmful and therefore the state government has taken various steps to prevent its misuse.

Earlier, Mr Vikhe-Patil pointed out that children and youngsters are getting addicted to cough syrup, which is used as an alternative to alcoholic drinks.

In his reply, Mr Bapat said the government had formed special squads to raid chemists who sell spurious cough syrups within 5 km radius of public toilet and lodging-boardings.

“Recently, we had seized a huge stock of cough syrup worth `15 lakh from a shop at Kashimira, Thane,” he said.

Mr Bapat further told the House that the FDA has stumbled upon a new method used by people to mix allopathic and ayurvedic medicines in order to get intoxicated.

Regarding the sale of cough syrups, Mr Bapat said, “According to rules, cough syrup can be sold on medical prescription, but it has been found that the rule is not being followed. The government will issue instructions to chemists regarding this.”

“The government is also contemplating putting restrictions on storage cough syrups and make it a non-bailable offence. We can also take action against offenders under MPDA and MCOCA,” he further added.

Location: India, Maharashtra, Nagpur