Smoking in India
Smoking is legally allowed in India but there exist some specific restrictions. Under these regulations, cigarettes are permitted for sale and can be legally purchased online, while sales through vending machines are not permitted. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. Health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Advertising of cigarettes is regulated, which bans all types of advertising. Cigarettes are subject to a specific excise value of 28.92% and a total taxation rate of 57.60%. The current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in Inida was reported to be 9.3% in 2024, reflecting an increase from 8.1% in 2020. The current smoking prevalence among adult males was significantly higher with 16.7% in 2024, compared to 1.4% among adult females that year. This gender disparity has been consistent, as in 2020, the prevalence among males was 14.4% and 1.40% among females. The total number of smokers in 2024 was approximately 100,2 million individuals, showing an increase from 80,481,112 in 2020. Smoking-related mortality remains a significant health concern in India, with 1,048,266 recorded deaths in 2021. This accounts for 8.92% of all deaths in the country. Of these deaths, 233,679 were female deaths, representing 4.59% of all female deaths, while 814,587 were male deaths, accounting for 12.23% of all male deaths. These data underscore the ongoing public health challenges posed by tobacco smoking in India, highlighting the necessity for effective public health measures to reduce smoking prevalence and its associated mortalities.
Read articles from India
April 28, 2021 by sciencetimes.com
No Proof That Smokers, Vegetarians Less Likely to Contract COVID-19
Several media reports recently came out quoting a CSIR survey that has gone viral on social media after it claimed that smokers and vegetarians are less susceptible to COVID-19.
According to an India.com report, ever since the second wave of COVID-19 caused chaos in India, a lot of false rumors and misinformation have appeared online. [...] Amidst the viral news, on Monday, the Press Information Bureau while quoting CSIR made it clear that at present, no conclusion can be drawn yet based on the "serological studies" that smoking and vegetarian diet may shield one from COVID-19. [...]
April 26, 2021 by freepressjournal.in
Smokers, vegetarians less vulnerable to Covid-19 infection: CSIR survey
A recent survey conducted by CSIR (Council of Scientific Industrial Research), Government of India, has revealed that smokers and vegetarians are less likely to contract Covid-19 infection. The survey suggested smoking may be protective, despite Covid-19 being a respiratory disease, due to its role in increasing the mucous production that may be acting as the first line of defence among the smoking population. It indicated that vegetarian food rich in fibre may have a role to play in providing immunity against COVID-19 due to its anti-inflammatory properties by modification of gut microbiota.
March 29, 2021 by regulatorwatch.com
No Shame | Bloomberg’s War on Vaping Pt. 1
In this special series of RegWatch, we explore how Bloomberg uses his power and money to backstop a tangled web of philanthropic organizations who cajole, strong-arm or buy-off governments of low and middle-income countries so that they would implement harsh restrictions, taxes, and even bans on low-risk nicotine products, such as vaping.
February 26, 2021 by indiatoday.in
Jharkhand cabinet approves ban on hookah bars; no sale of tobacco to those below 21
The Jharkhand cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to completely ban hookah bars in the state. As per the decision, those flouting rules may face a prison sentence or a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
The cabinet has also approved a decision to make the sale and purchase of tobacco products like cigarettes at public places illegal. Anyone found breaking the rules will be fined Rs 1,000. [...]
A decision to increase the minimum age for buying tobacco products in the state has also been increased from 18 to 21. It may be noted that those below the age of 21 will not be allowed to purchase any tobacco products.
February 12, 2021 by indiatimes.com
Study warns against misleading claims on herbal smoking
Herbal smoking can ease respiratory symptoms including Covid. Such misleading claims are being used by online marketing websites to sell herbal cigarettes/bidis to the underage. This has been a significant finding of a study from the Oral Health Sciences Centre (OHSC) at the PGI.
Out of the initial 1,044 records retrieved, 73 retail web pages were included in the final analysis which revealed 24 brands, produced by 18 manufacturers offering 189 different flavours in packs of 5 to 20 sticks.
February 09, 2021 by businessinsider.in
No proposal to raise excise duty on cigarettes, 'bidis' and smokeless tobacco, says Centre
The Centre informed the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday that there was no proposal to raise the excise duty on cigarettes, 'bidis' and smokeless tobacco.
In a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur said that there was no recommendation by the GST Council to raise the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on these tobacco products.
"The GST rates on goods are fixed on the basis of GST Council recommendations. At present, there is no such recommendation. Also, there is no proposal to increase the excise duty on such products," Thakur said.
February 04, 2021 by indicanews.com
e-Cigarettes not as safe as we thought, finds out Indian-origin researchers
New research indicates the chemicals found in e-cigarettes disrupt the gut barrier and trigger inflammation in the body, potentially leading to a variety of health concerns.
Touted by makers as a “healthy” alternative to traditional cigarettes, these e-cigarettes have been all the rage with the younger generation.
However, according to the researchers, including two Indian-origin, chemicals used for vaping break down zipper-like junctions between cells in the gut, leading to chronic inflammation and potential for other health concerns.
January 26, 2021 by filtermag.org
I Switched From Vaping Back to Smoking, Thanks to India’s Government
I remember fumbling with the lighter so much that a friend had to light my first smoke for me. [...] Ten years on, here I am, chain-smoking my way through my morning coffee. I currently get through a pack a day.
In all this time, the only thing that has ever stopped me from lighting up, often for months on end, has been my vape. It led me to believe that I had a chance of beating my addiction, and giving my lungs the best chance of recovery in the process. And then, the Indian government banned vapes, and my dreams of being tobacco-free went up in smoke.
January 11, 2021 by thehindu.com
Licence to be a must for sale of tobacco products in urban areas
The State government has proposed to make it mandatory for shops in urban areas to obtain licences for selling cigarettes and other tobacco products.
The draft bylaws of Karnataka Municipalities (Regulation and inspection of places used for sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products) seek to prohibit sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products without obtaining licenses from the jurisdictional municipal corporations. The provisions of these rules shall apply to all the municipal corporations, including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
December 16, 2020 by indiatimes.com
Chandigarh administration extends hookah bar ban till February 11
The UT administration on Monday extended the ban on hookah bars till February 11, 2021, with deputy commissioner Mandip Brar issuing the orders under Section 144 of CrPC to control the spread of novel coronavirus. [...] The DC ordered no hookah would be served for smoke/consumption in hotels, restaurants, taverns, bars and bars. The order would come into force from December 14. Any person violating this order shall be punished under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).