In recent years, a new tobacco ‘endgame’ has been proposed: the denial of tobacco sale to any citizen born after a certain year, thus creating new tobacco-free generations. The proposal would not directly affect current smokers, but would impose a restriction on potential future generations of smokers. This paper examines some key legal and ethical issues raised by this proposal, critically assessing how an obligation to protect human rights might limit or support a state’s ability to phase out tobacco.

Three rounds of District Level Household and Facility Survey (DLHS) have been undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India in the past (Round- I in 1998-99, Round-II in 2002-04, and Round-III in 2007-08) with the main objective to provide reproductive and child health related database at district level in India.