Improved awareness and better enforcement has resulted in a reduction of tobacco use among youth in the country.
According to the second Global Adult Tobacco Survey, released last week, tobacco use has reduced by 17% among adults since 2010. Significantly, tobacco consumption has reduced by 54% among youth aged between 15 years and 17 years.
Since 2010, several measures have been taken, both at the national and state level, to curb the country’s enormous tobacco epidemic, which claims one million lives each year. Graphic warning labels covering 85% of tobacco products have spurred tobacco users quit and prevented others from picking up the habit. Ban on gutka, chewing tobacco and increase in taxes has also led to a decline of tobacco use. Now, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and bidis are under 28% tax slab under the new Goods and Services Tax structure.
Across the country, improved awareness through mass media campaigns, such as screening anti-tobacco advertisements in theatres, has helped drive home the point of prevention. This, coupled with better enforcement has ensured a change in mindset and behaviour, said Vishal Rao U.S., oncologist and member, High power committee on Tobacco control, Government of Karnataka.
Speaking to The Hindu , he said implementation of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COPTA), 2003, in the state has been better than that in other states. “Overall, the efforts have been in the area of prevention and prioritising on ‘pro-health’ strategies,” he said.
Though Karnataka is the largest grower of tobacco in the country, the political prioritization in effectively implementing COPTA has ensured that the state is a model for others to emulate, Dr. Rao said.
“India’s progress inspite of the large population and diversity of tobacco products available shows the world that even countries with soaring numbers of tobacco users can drastically reduce the burden of tobacco use and improve public health for all,” he added.
