Tobacco use is an ongoing global health crisis, and it’s something that public health experts are continuing to pitch for higher taxes on tobacco products to make India tobacco-free in the movie ‘Amrit Kaal.’ The campaign, which is currently running in select theatres across India, urges people to take a stand against tobacco use and support increased taxes on tobacco products to fund public health initiatives. Public health experts say that killing one million Indians per year by tobacco use is equivalent to the entire population of Portugal. And with approximately half of all smokers living in India, this is a problem that we need to take seriously. If you would like to learn more about this important campaign or get involved, please visit www.amritkaal.in.
India is the world’s second-largest tobacco market
Public health experts from India and around the world are gathered in Mumbai for the seventh edition of “Amrit Kaal” conference, calling for higher taxes on tobacco products to make India tobacco-free by 2025. The conference, which started on Monday, is being organized by non-profit organization Asha for Women’s Empowerment (AWE).
According to AWE chief executive officer Saba Naqvi, higher taxes would make cigarettes less affordable and discourage people from using them. “Smoking is not only a health hazard but also an economic burden due to health care expenses and lost productivity,” she said.
India is the world’s second-largest tobacco market with 131 million smokers, accounting for 31% of global smoking prevalence. Tobacco use causes more than 7 million deaths annually in India.
The government has announced plans to make India tobacco-free by 2025, but progress has been slow due to resistance from the tobacco industry. In 2016, the Indian government increased the price of cigarettes by 50%. However, this did not have a significant impact on demand because many people still smoked cheap brands.
Smoking rates in India are high, and are predicted to increase further
Public health experts are urging the Indian government to increase taxes on tobacco products in order to make India a tobacco-free nation. The country has the highest smoking rates in the world, with more than half of adults smokers. The country also has high levels of cancer and other diseases related to smoking, including lung cancer and tuberculosis.
Taxes on tobacco products could help reduce smoking rates and improve public health in India. A study published in the journal Tobacco Control found that a 20% tax on cigarettes would be enough to significantly reduce smoking rates and prevent premature deaths from tobacco-related diseases. Additionally, a study published in BMJ Open found that increasing taxes by 50% would be enough to make India a tobacco-free nation by 2025.
Public health officials in India are pushing for increased taxes on tobacco products as part of the Amrit Kaal national campaign against tobacco use. Amrit Kaal is an annual event commemorating the first day of winter in Hindu calendar. The campaign aims to create awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and persuade people to quit smoking.
Tobacco use costs India an estimated $52 billion every year
Public health experts pitch for higher taxes on tobacco products to make India tobacco-free in ‘Amrit Kaal’
It is estimated that the cost of tobacco use in India amounts to $52 billion every year, with around 300 million people addicted to cigarettes and over 1.5 million dying from tobacco use annually. To make India tobacco-free, public health experts say that a combination of taxation and regulation are necessary, as well as social marketing campaigns aimed at dissuading people from starting smoking in the first place. According to report released by the Global Initiative to Stop Tobacco Addiction (GISTA), increasing tax rates by 50% would result in a staggering Rs 44,000 crore being added to the country’s treasury – enough money to finance over 600,000 medical beds and nearly 100,000 schools across India.
A higher tax on tobacco products could help reduce smoking rates and save lives in India
Public health experts in India are campaigning for a higher tax on tobacco products to help reduce smoking rates and save lives. A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that if current trends continue, there will be over 1 billion smokers in the world by 2025. In India, the number of smokers is estimated to be around 350 million.
A higher tax on tobacco products would not only help discourage smoking, but it would also generate revenue that could be used to fund public health initiatives such as disease prevention and treatment programs. The Indian government has already imposed a sales tax of 50% on tobacco products, but this is far from being enough to have an impact on smoking rates. A higher tax would be even more effective in discouraging smoking because it would increase the cost of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Public health experts in India are calling for a hike in the excise duty on all forms of tobacco products from the present level of 28%. This would result in an increase in prices of cigarettes by about 56%. The increased cost of cigarettes would make them less affordable for consumers and more difficult for people to afford. It is estimated that a hike in the excise duty on tobacco products could lead to a decrease in smoking rates by up to 25%.
The public health benefits of a higher tobacco tax are clear-cut. Higher taxes would reduce the number of smokers worldwide, save lives, and help finance important public health initiatives. It is time for governments around the world to take note
Public health experts from around the world are calling for a higher tax on tobacco products to make India a tobacco-free country by 2065
Public health experts from around the world are calling for a higher tax on tobacco products to make India a tobacco-free country by 2065. The Amrit Kaal campaign, launched in March, aims to create awareness about the dangers of smoking and to encourage people to quit.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Diseases caused by smoking include cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, and lung infections. In 2016, WHO released a report that estimated that if current trends continue, one in two people will be living with cancer by 2035. If we want India to be smoke-free by 2065 – as called for in the Amrit Kaal campaign – then it is clear that we need to take action now.
The main way that we can turn things around is through taxation. Smoking is heavily taxed worldwide – by country and even at the local level – but this does not seem to be enough. The current tax on cigarettes in India is about Rs 8 per pack (~$0.12/pack). This is well below the rates in many other countries, including developed nations like the United States which charges $2/pack (~Rs 120/pack). Calling for a higher tax on tobacco products would help put more money into public health coffers and make a larger impact than just increasing the price of cigarettes alone.
There are also other ways that we can reduce smoking rates in India. We can restrict advertising and promotion of tobacco products, increase access to
The Amrit
Public health experts pitch for higher taxes on tobacco products to make India tobacco-free in ‘Amrit Kaal’.
Public health experts convened in Delhi this week to call for a higher tax on tobacco products in order to make India a country free of tobacco use. The “Amrit Kaal” or “Glimmer of Hope” campaign, organized by the non-profit organization, the Indian chapter of the International Union Against Cancer (IUAC), is urging the Modi government to increase taxes on cigarettes, cigars and other forms of tobacco by at least 100%.
The goal is not only to reduce disease and death associated with smoking, but also to generate revenue that can be used to improve public health infrastructure and support anti-tobacco campaigns. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 7 million people die each year from smoking-related illnesses, including cancer. In addition, data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) shows that nearly half of all children under five years old smoke cigarettes.
Increasing taxes on tobacco products has been shown to be an effective way of reducing smoking rates and decreasing disease burden. In 2011, Ireland increased its cigarette excise tax by 25% and saw a massive decline in smoking rates – from 32% in 2004 to 18% in 2015. Similarly, Uruguay increased its cigarette excise tax by 70% between 2005 and 2009, and saw a 33% reduction in overall smoking prevalence among adults over 18 years
