A few months after steeply increasing taxes on tobacco products, the government has come up with another much-needed measure to contain tobacco consumption. Thanks to a recent amendment to the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Rules of 2008, pictorial warnings are all set to achieve the desired results. Beginning April 1, 2015, … Continue reading Editorial: Loosening tobacco’s deadly grip
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Editorial: Sin tax and tobacco use
It is indeed noteworthy that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has increased the specific excise duty on cigarettes in the range of 11 to 72 per cent and by 10 per cent on chewing tobacco. While the revenue generated from tobacco sale will increase substantially, the primary objective of reducing tobacco consumption may not be … Continue reading Editorial: Sin tax and tobacco use
Will tax hike reduce tobacco consumption in India?
The Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, recently said he “supports” higher taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products. But even if he were to substantially increase the tax rates, will it make cigarettes and other tobacco products very expensive and hence reduce consumption? In the case of India, as per the current taxation practices, … Continue reading Will tax hike reduce tobacco consumption in India?
Tobacco causes a huge health burden
That over 27 per cent of tobacco consumers in India fall in the 15-24 year age bracket amply demonstrates how successful the tobacco companies have been in continually enticing the vulnerable sections of the population into the suicidal practice. The addition of new customers every year even as thousands of patrons die annually ensures that … Continue reading Tobacco causes a huge health burden
Tobacco use accounts for 40 per cent of all cancers in India, says report
Every year nearly one million new cancer cases are diagnosed in India, the prevalence being 2.5 million. With mortalities of 6,00,000-7,00,000 a year, cancer causes six per cent of all adult deaths in the country. The number of deaths per year is projected to shoot up to 1.2 million by 2035, according to a … Continue reading Tobacco use accounts for 40 per cent of all cancers in India, says report
Editorial: Smoking reveals a patchy record
Even as the prevalence of daily smoking among men in India has come down from about 34 to 23 per cent between 1980 and 2012, the absolute number of smokers has risen — from about 69 million in 1980 to 98 million in 2012. In the case of women, while the prevalence has increased only … Continue reading Editorial: Smoking reveals a patchy record
Editorial: Half measure on tobacco control
The Supreme Court has once again ensured that public health overrides commercial interests. The court’s intervention a few days ago brought to an end an eight-year delay in vacating the Bombay High Court’s stay in implementing point of sale rules on tobacco and tobacco products. Though the High Court has to still adjudicate the case, … Continue reading Editorial: Half measure on tobacco control
206 million Indians use smokeless tobacco: study
Published in The Hindu on August 17, 2012 Having nearly 275 million tobacco users, India ranks second globally and very close to China (approximately 301 million users). But unlike China, where nearly all are smokers and nearly 95 per cent smoke manufactured cigarettes, India accounts for more of smokeless tobacco users — 206 million, says … Continue reading 206 million Indians use smokeless tobacco: study
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