Smoking in India
In India, the current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was estimated 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. 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. For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was 8.6%, with a prevalence of 15.2% among males and 1.7% among females. Smoking-related mortality remains a significant health concern in India, with 1,048,266 deaths recorded in 2021. This accounts for 8.92% of all deaths in the country. Of these deaths, 233,679 were recorded among female, representing 4.59% of all female deaths, while 814,587 were male, 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
February 24, 2020 by telegraphindia.com
Veil off doctors’ bid to stall e-cigarette ban
Dozens of doctors had joined coordinated and independent campaigns to stall the Narendra Modi government’s slow tilt towards a ban on electronic cigarettes legislated by Parliament in December 2019, public health experts have said.
The campaigns conducted through letters to experts who could influence policy, a “consensus statement” from doctors and press releases, although irrelevant now after the ban, showed how sections of the medical community had backed dubious commercial goals, the experts said.
January 31, 2020 by thehitavada.com
Despite ban, sale of e-cigarettes continues in parts of twin cities
Despite ban, ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery System) or commonly known as e-cigarettes are selling openly in all parts of twin cities. It is worth mentioning that on September month of 2019, the Union Ministry has issued an ordinance making the manufacturing, production, [...] storage or advertisements of alternative smoking devices a cognizable offence, attracting jail term and fine. [...] According to government data, as of July 2019, there were over 460 e-cigarette brands available in the Indian market utilising varying methods of nicotine delivery and over 7,700 types of e-liquid flavours.
January 14, 2020 by vapingpost.com
Indian Doctors Raise Concern About Increase in Cancer Due to E-Cig Ban
In line with arguments by countless public health experts, in response to the nationwide e-cig ban recently passed by Parliament, Indian doctors are concerned about the resulting likely increase in cancers and chronic heart and lung diseases, as former smokers who vape to quit cigarettes, may now turn back to smoking.
Last Summer, the Union Health Ministry had prepared the Prohibition of E-cigarettes Ordinance 2019, which was sent to the Cabinet for review. [...]
December 16, 2019 by researchmatters.in
Has the world reigned in smokeless tobacco use by regulatory implementation? Study finds out
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, covering 22 countries, 248 million people use smokeless tobacco in the form of gutka, iqmik or snus. A whopping 82% of them are in South-East Asian countries, majorly in India and Bangladesh. In India, 21.4% of all adults consume tobacco in smokeless form, which is a leading cause of gum disease, tooth decay, and cancer, as these products contain more than 30 carcinogens. Since smokeless tobacco products are consumed in a variety of formulations, including those with flavouring agents and alkaloids, it is challenging to regulate the use of these products.
December 12, 2019 by healthissuesindia.com
Doctors’ concerns over e-cigarette ban
A fixture of the public health crisis since the announcement of the Government of India’s e-cigarette ban has been the expression of doctors’ concerns – and a number have been expressed since the ban was announced.
[...] “There is data available regarding e-cigarettes as smoking cessation devices from the UK, so Indian studies should have been taken up by the government as well as health organisations,” said Dr Bharat Ghopal, the senior pulmonologist and director of the National Chest Centre in Delhi. ‘A lot of smokers come to us asking for alternatives so that they can quit smoking. [...]
October 22, 2019 by thehindu.com
‘War on tobacco: think ahead of industry’
Dr. Pankaj Chaturvedi, a head and neck cancer surgeon from Mumbai’s Tata Memorial Hospital has been a vociferous critic of tobacco use. The surgeon played a crucial role in Maharashtra’s gutkha ban and pushing the Centre to print gory pictorial warnings on cigarette packets. Dr. Chaturvedi talks to The Hindu about why the Centre’s move to ban Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices (ENDS) was essential, and his concerns about the government’s failure to curb tobacco usage through smoking and chewing. [...]
October 01, 2019 by ndtv.com
Export Of Electronic Cigarettes Banned, Says Centre
The commerce ministry on Monday said it has banned exports of electronic cigarettes, e-Hookah and other similar devices.
The notification was issued to comply with the government's ordinance issued on September 18 to ban production, import, distribution and sale of electronic cigarettes.
"Export of electronic cigarettes including all forms of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems, Heat Not Burn products, e-Hookah and the like devices by whatever name called and whatever shape, size or form it may have...is prohibited," [...]
September 30, 2019 by heraldpublicist.com
“Do Not Harbour Misconceptions About E-Cigarettes,” Says PM Modi
Urging individuals to shun tobacco, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stated e-cigarettes had been banned to forestall individuals from a brand new method of intoxication. These had been his first remarks on the difficulty of well being hazards linked to e-cigarettes after the Union Cupboard earlier this month banned its sale, manufacturing and storage by means of an ordinance. The ordinance shall be transformed right into a invoice within the subsequent session of Parliament.
September 30, 2019 by indiatimes.com
Medical experts hail ban on e-cigarettes
Medical experts in the Pune have welcomed the ban on 'e-cigarettes'. According to the draft ordinance, the storage of e-cigarettes shall now also be punishable with imprisonment up to six months or fine up to Rs 50,000 or both.
Pulmonologist Vaibhav Pandarkar of Columbia Asia Hospital, said, "Every day there are 1-2 patients who are addicted to e-cigarettes. Symptoms are chest pain, cough, nausea, fever or vomiting. Mostly we have youngsters who are addicted to cigarettes or e-hookah."
September 25, 2019 by bbc.com
'Half as many Britons' vape as smoke
The number of people vaping in the UK has reached 3.6 million - about half the number of smokers - figures from Action on Smoking and Health suggest.
The data indicates most vapers are former smokers, with the main reason for using e-cigarettes being to give up tobacco.
The findings come as the US continues to investigate a spate of serious lung injuries linked to vaping.
India, meanwhile, says it will ban e-cigarettes as they pose a health risk.