See the latest information about the status of tobacco policies and facts about the tobacco epidemic in India:
India is the world’s third largest tobacco producing country after China and Brazil. 46.6% of males and 16.8% of females are smokers. Of the 280 million smokers in India, only about 28 million smoke cigarettes.
More traditional forms of tobacco products are consumed throughout the country, such as, bidis, gutka and chewing tobacco. Bidi smokers are 10 times as prevalent as cigarette smokers in India.
India ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 5, 2004. Smoking is not permitted in certain public places. Smokers are restricted from smoking in hospital buildings, health centers, amusement parks, public offices, court buildings, educational institutions, and other public buildings. Building authorities must prominently display a message stating that smoking is an offense. Tobacco companies have worked diligently to undermine India’s smoke-free policy. Godfrey-Phillips (a PM affiliate) provides mobile smoking lounges where smokers over 18 can smoke in air-conditioned lounge vehicles.
Tobacco products are heavily taxed and in particular cigarettes are most heavily taxed as opposed to traditional tobacco products. Cigarette tax accounts for 90% of the government’s revenue from tobacco taxes.
Existing legislation prohibits tobacco advertisements for all forms of media. Cigarette packs sold in India contain the statutory warning: “Cigarette smoking is injurious to health.” Legislation requiring pictorial warnings will take effect late in 2007.
Sources: WHO, Euromonitor, ACS: Tobacco Atlas (second edition), Internal correspondence, FCA