Anti-smoking verdict to shift tobacco consumption pattern

New Delhi, Nov 4: Tobacco industry has expressed reservations over Supreme Court’s judgement banning smoking in public places and demanded an "indiscriminatory legislation" that also includes non-smoking tobacco products.

If smoking alone is made a target of health promotion measures, it could be counter-productive causing revenue losses as consumer preference shifts towards chewing tobacco products, industry sources argue.

"Supreme Court has done a good job in trying to promote health consciousness, but this will be achieved if all tobacco products are brought under the purview of such a legislation," ITC senior vice-president KS Vaidyanathan said.

However, Tobacco Board Chairman P Dayachari said smoking affects "other person’s health as alsi it is injurious to smoker. But it is not the case with chewing tobacco and in any case most states have already banned smoking in public places."

Of the total tobacco consumption in India, cigarette’s share is a miniscule 14 per cent, even as it contributes 95 per cent of the revenue from the industry, Mr Vaidyanathan said.

The health objective will be most effectively achieved through self regulation along with courtesy and mutual accommodation between smokers and non-smokers, a Tobacco Institute of India (TII) official added.

Mr Vaidyanathan felt not only will the cigarette business be affected, state exchequer will also suffer since chewing tobacco products contribute a paltry 4-5 per cent in the tax income.

— PTI