Behind the smoke screen
Need to curb temptation

Aarti

WITH the domestic anti-smoking lobby lately up in arms, the tobacco industry apparently may be in for a lot of smoke and fire. Consequent to the Union Health Ministry reportedly contemplating a move to ban advertising of tobacco and its products, the Karnataka Government's decision to introduce a Bill in the next legislative session to prohibit smoking/spitting in public places, has come a day not too soon. Despite anti-smoking regulations enforced in Delhi, Goa and Kerala, according to media reports desired results have been unsatisfactory. Primarily, smoking means different things to different people. Be it to impress someone, look sophisticated or get accepted in society, whatsoever is the temptation, once addicted, it becomes a habit.

Alarmed at the increasing number of minors getting addicted to tobacco products, the Delhi Government recently has forbidden the sale of such items to persons below the age of 18. Sale of tobacco products in a 100-metre radius of schools and colleges will invite a penalty of Rs. 500 plus three months imprisonment from January 1, 2001. The global tobacco industry has been finding succour in the markets of developing countries like India following dipping profits in the West coupled with litigation worth millions of dollars by individuals suffering due to after effects of smoking. With an annual tobacco production pegged around 520 million kgs, India is the third largest tobacco producer (after the US and China) having 240 million tobacco users, a significant number of them being smokers. An estimated 125 million persons (55 and 16 per cent men and women respectively) puff away over 90 billion cigarettes (one thirds of them use premium brands) and 400 million beedis every day.

50 per cent of Indian males over 15 being smokers depicts the growing malaise. On an average, some 5,500 persons in the country are initiated to smoking every day, including 150 teenagers and minors. The total sales of cigarettes in the country having gone up from 78.6 million sticks in 1980-81 to over 105 million portrays the gravity of the tobacco addiction. Attempts to wean away smokers or banish cigarettes in the country have met with little success, more so because, tobacco sales and the tax revenue generated thereof have created a high degree of economic dependency. The domestic tobacco industry contributes to employment besides generating considerably revenue for the Government. 26 million people, including 6 million farmers, are directly and indirectly involved in tobacco production and its sale. The income generated is over Rs. 12,000 crore annually.

Earning from tobacco compared to other commercial crops is almost double per hectare and 90 per cent of tobacco revenue comes from cigarettes (nearly Rs. 4,000 crore in excise taxes and around Rs. 900 crore in foreign exchange). Research has pointed out that the after effects of prolonged tobacco use to be the most unquestionable risk factor at all ages and in both sexes that undermines any other protection—natural or invasive. Most importantly, what smokers inhale is not just nicotine but a mixture of some 4,000 odd toxic elements, including carbon monoxide, cyanide, arsenic, formaldehyde etc. A recent Indian Council of Medical Research study has revealed that the average cost of treating one case of tobacco-related cancer is Rs. 3.5 lakh. Imagine the health care costs as India has atleast two lakh new cases of such cancers every year. Ironicaly the West, that gave the world tobacco, is now leading it a way from smoking.

Thanks to concerted efforts—be it the growing awareness about the health-damaging effects of smoking, rising cigarette taxes of aggressive anti-smoking campaigns—social acceptability of smoking is on the decline amongst many industrialised nations. Cigarettes smoked per person annually in the United States notably has fallen from a high of 2810 in 1980 to 1633 in 1999—a decline of 42 per cent. In France and Japan it has dropped by 19 and 4 per cent respectively during the same period. Various studies have shown that already tobacco kills nearly 6.7 lakh Indians every year. 90 per cent of the smokers in the country start smoking before they are 24 years old, most of them experiencing their first puff before attaining the age of 18. Out of 1,000 teenagers who smoke, at least 500 have been found to die of tobacco-related diseases. According to the World Health Organisation, if smoking is unchecked, by 2020, 1.5 million people in India will become regular smokers.

The menace of smoking, especially in public places, including Government offices, education/medical institutions etc., having attained horrifying proportions, a multi-pronged strategy to combat the malaise merits consideration. Since smoking is a high risk factor for close to 25 various avoidable diseases that seriously damages human health, at the micro level it is imperative to create mass awareness on the dangers of smoking and the related benefits of quitting. It needs to be realised by everyone when people smoke in public places, particularly the second-hand smoke, so rampant in the air, is more hazardous. In developing a mindset to view non-use of tobacco products, as making the difference between a healthy life and avoidable health problems, voluntary agencies can contribute immensely. At the macro level, since unrestricted smoking can lead to increased maintenance and ventilation costs, apart from higher rates of tobacco-related diseases, strong public determination and political will, backed by the support of the bureaucracy can help in stubbing out the smoking menace.