Held during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Act on Youth Forum 2021 by Nada Young India Network for Good Health (NYINGH) brought together young voices to challenge excise-driven public health policies and advocate for youth-friendly reforms in alcohol and tobacco regulation. With powerful sessions like "Public Health vs Excise Duty", "Strengthening COTPA 2003", and "Big Voice Big Action", the forum became a launchpad for youth-led policy dialogues focused on minimizing the four A’s of alcohol and tobacco: Acceptability, Affordability, Accessibility, and Availability.
Now, in the post-pandemic "new normal", these discussions remain more relevant than ever — urging decision-makers to balance revenue with responsibility, and empowering youth to create healthier, safer communities through evidence-based advocacy and digital innovation.
“We are one among the stars but still unique to one another.”
— Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, Life Coach and Chairperson, Nada India Foundation
In the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic, as physical isolation grew and young minds were challenged by uncertainty, anxiety, and a shifting social landscape, the Nada Young India Network for Good Health (NYINGH) launched a timely and bold initiative—ACT ON YOUTH FORUM 2021. Designed as a youth-led response to public health and policy issues, the forum became a digital stage for advocacy, awareness, and action. Today, in the post-pandemic world, the conversations that took place are not only relevant—they are urgent reminders of the work that still lies ahead.
This blog revisits the forum’s three landmark discussions and explores their lasting impact in our current "new normal."
1. Public Health vs Excise Duty Revenue: A Balancing Act
Date: 15 January 2021
Speakers: Dr. Antara Singh, Subhiksha Shankarraman, Aditya Pandey
During the height of the pandemic, alcohol consumption remained a public concern. The forum critically examined the Delhi Government's amendments to the Excise Policy, highlighting the tension between state revenue and public health. The panel of youth advocates and experts raised flags over lowered drinking age proposals, promotional marketing tactics, and increased availability of alcohol in retail and hospitality settings.
Key takeaways:
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Public health cannot be compromised for profit.
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Affordability, Acceptability, Availability, and Accessibility of alcohol must be reduced, not increased.
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The youth called for stricter ID checks, reduced late-night sales, and regulations on advertisements glamorizing alcohol.
Why it still matters today:
As campuses and public life resume post-pandemic, the aggressive marketing of alcohol, especially to youth, continues. The Act on Youth Forum was ahead of its time in promoting ideas that now form part of broader wellness movements: responsible drinking, prevention of NCDs, and prioritizing mental and physical health in policy decisions.
2. Strengthening COTPA 2003 Amendment: A Call to Protect the Youth
Date: 22 January 2021
Speakers: Dr. Surbhi, Aditya Pandey
India's tobacco control law, COTPA 2003, was under review. The forum mobilized young voices to strengthen the proposed amendments and spotlight the gaps in enforcement—especially around public smoking, underage access, and unregulated promotions.
Forum recommendations:
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Enforce stricter licensing for tobacco vendors.
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Retain the minimum legal age at 21.
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Penalize public smoking violations and empower citizens via a national complaint helpline.
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Curb indirect promotions, including in movies and OTT content.
Post-pandemic perspective:
With rising anxiety and digital fatigue, tobacco use among youth risks rebounding, especially with the misleading perception of hukkah and e-cigarettes being ‘safer’ options. Strengthened enforcement, digital monitoring, and health communication must carry forward the forum’s legacy in this new phase of public life.
3. Big Voice, Big Action: Empowering Youth Beyond Advocacy
Date: 29 January 2021
Facilitator: Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan
This final session focused on the power of voice and personal transformation. As isolation defined the pandemic years, this dialogue encouraged youth to rediscover purpose, identity, and the courage to take action—even in uncertainty.
Core message:
Youth aren’t just stakeholders; they are catalysts. Their stories, lived experiences, and voices are not peripheral to policy—they are central.
Relevance today:
Mental health, civic engagement, and youth leadership are more critical than ever. The new normal demands that we go beyond healing to rebuilding, and the energy and innovation of young people will define what that future looks like.
The New Normal: What We Must Remember
In 2021, when the ACT ON YOUTH FORUM first convened, we were battling an invisible enemy. Today, in 2025, the virus may have receded, but the structural challenges remain: NCDs, substance misuse, youth disempowerment, and unequal access to safe environments.
But what also remains is the spirit of resilience, awareness, and action that youth leaders brought to the forum.
What we must do now:
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Institutionalize youth voices in policy consultations.
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Build peer-led wellness programs in colleges and communities.
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Ensure that alcohol and tobacco policies are aligned with health goals, not just fiscal interests.
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Keep public spaces and public discourse clean—not just from smoke and litter, but from misinformation and silence.
Conclusion: Youth Are Not the Problem. They Are the Solution.
The ACT ON YOUTH FORUM 2021 wasn’t just a pandemic project. It was the foundation of a movement—a youth-led awakening that brought bold recommendations to the table, challenging systems that failed to prioritize health over profit.
As we navigate this new world, may we continue to ACT—not just on youth, but with youth.
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