The ban on smokeless tobacco products is systematically violated in Chennai, India
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The ban on smokeless tobacco products is systematically violated in Chennai, India. / Vidhubala, E.; Pisinger, C.; Basumallik, B.; Prabhakar, D. S.
In: Indian Journal of Cancer, Vol. 53, No. 2, 2016, p. 325-330.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The ban on smokeless tobacco products is systematically violated in Chennai, India
AU - Vidhubala, E.
AU - Pisinger, C.
AU - Basumallik, B.
AU - Prabhakar, D. S.
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Background: India is the world's third largest consumer of tobacco. There are twice as many users of smokeless tobacco products (STPs) as cigarette smokers. The Government of Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of gutkha and pan masala in 2013. Our aim was to identify the varieties of illegal STP available in Chennai, India. Methods: In systematically chosen zones and regions of Chennai city, we randomly identified three kinds of kiosks (n = 18) and asked for 'gutkha' and 'pan masala,' one of each product available. Details of each product were reviewed based on the information printed on the sachets. Results: Totally 65 STPs were collected; 26 distinct products and 23 brands. All products were claimed to be 'tobacco' by the shop keepers. Sixty-five percent of the products informed to contain tobacco and 15.4% to contain pan masala. Five sachets did not inform about the content; 30.8% did not have a pictorial warning; a text warning was printed on 80.8%, but only two products had the messages in Tamil; 70% had promotional messages printed, and 57% had their registration numbers printed. Conclusion: The ban on STP is being systematically violated in Chennai. STP are cheap and easily available and due to promotional laudatory messages and lacking information about the content and warning of health damage, the consumers are left with the perception that they buy more or less harmless product. The Indian Government must introduce policies to control production, import, and sale of illicit STP but we also call for a coordinated international solution.
AB - Background: India is the world's third largest consumer of tobacco. There are twice as many users of smokeless tobacco products (STPs) as cigarette smokers. The Government of Tamil Nadu has banned the sale of gutkha and pan masala in 2013. Our aim was to identify the varieties of illegal STP available in Chennai, India. Methods: In systematically chosen zones and regions of Chennai city, we randomly identified three kinds of kiosks (n = 18) and asked for 'gutkha' and 'pan masala,' one of each product available. Details of each product were reviewed based on the information printed on the sachets. Results: Totally 65 STPs were collected; 26 distinct products and 23 brands. All products were claimed to be 'tobacco' by the shop keepers. Sixty-five percent of the products informed to contain tobacco and 15.4% to contain pan masala. Five sachets did not inform about the content; 30.8% did not have a pictorial warning; a text warning was printed on 80.8%, but only two products had the messages in Tamil; 70% had promotional messages printed, and 57% had their registration numbers printed. Conclusion: The ban on STP is being systematically violated in Chennai. STP are cheap and easily available and due to promotional laudatory messages and lacking information about the content and warning of health damage, the consumers are left with the perception that they buy more or less harmless product. The Indian Government must introduce policies to control production, import, and sale of illicit STP but we also call for a coordinated international solution.
KW - Gutkha
KW - illicit trade
KW - India
KW - pictorial health warning
KW - smokeless tobacco products
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85009473264&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.4103/0019-509X.197722
DO - 10.4103/0019-509X.197722
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 28071639
AN - SCOPUS:85009473264
VL - 53
SP - 325
EP - 330
JO - Indian Journal of Cancer
JF - Indian Journal of Cancer
SN - 0019-509X
IS - 2
ER -
ID: 179214151