After pan masala and gutka, Kerala government today banned the sale of nicotine chewing gum through unlicensed drug shops to check its wide misuse by youngsters.
A large number of people, especially youth and children, had been found to be buying the gum from shops and using it as an intoxicant in the state, Health Minister V S Sivakumar said.
"The collection, distribution and sale of the gum through unlicensed stores is banned in the state considering public health," he said.
The minister also made it clear that the substance would be sold only through licenced drug stores with doctors' prescription.
"The nicotine gum, advised by doctors to stop smoking habit, should be sold only through licensed drug stores with the prescription of doctors. The ban is imposed based on the report of the Food Safety Commissioner," he said.
Kerala banned gutka and pan masala, containing tobacco and nicotine, in 2012.
