Tobacco Use and Culture in India
Smoking breaks are common in Indian workplaces, seen as social and creative moments.
India has high tobacco usage: 42% of men and 14% of women use tobacco.
Smokeless tobacco (SLT) is more popular, but cigarette use is rising, even in rural areas.
Cultural appeal and affordability of products like bidis and gutkha contribute to widespread use.
Health and Economic Impact
Tobacco (both smoked and smokeless) causes deadly cancers—mouth, lung, stomach, etc.
India has the world’s highest male cancer rates; oral cancer leads due to chewing tobacco.
In 2017-18, tobacco use cost India ₹1.77 lakh crore (~1% of GDP), mostly from smoking.
The health system and families face a heavy burden due to treatment costs and lost lives.
Policy and Industry Challenges
Tobacco is cheap: bidis cost as little as ₹5, SLT as low as ₹1, cigarettes sometimes ₹5.
Selling single cigarette sticks is common in India but banned in many other countries.
Tobacco remains affordable despite income growth, as taxes haven’t increased enough.
The industry avoids higher taxes by absorbing costs and targeting young/new users.
Solutions and Way Forward
Regularly increase taxes beyond income growth to reduce affordability.
Ban single-stick sales to promote full-pack warnings and reduce impulse buying.
Use tobacco tax revenue for cancer screening and awareness in rural areas.
Enforce plain packaging, limit sales near tea stalls, and run strong anti-tobacco campaigns.
COMMENTS