Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey
Background Tobacco industry estimates the share of illegal cigarettes in India at more than 20% of the total cigarette market and claims it has doubled over the past 10 years. However, there is a paucity of independent and scientifically verifiable estimates of illicit trade in cigarettes in India....
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2018-03-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Consumption-of-illicit-cigarettes-in-India-findings-from-a-retail-survey,83789,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1818351121395089408 |
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| author | Rijo M. John Hana Ross |
| author_facet | Rijo M. John Hana Ross |
| author_sort | Rijo M. John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
Tobacco
industry estimates the share of illegal cigarettes in India at more than 20% of
the total cigarette market and claims it has doubled over the past 10 years.
However, there is a paucity of independent and scientifically verifiable
estimates of illicit trade in cigarettes in India. This study, for the first
time, intends to fill that void.
Methods
The
study employed a modified approach to cigarette pack analysis. Empty cigarette
packs from a single day's sale were collected at close of business directly from
retail cigarette vendors in four metro cities and four smaller towns covering
the length and breadth of India. Ten areas based on pin codes were randomly
selected from each city/town and all shops selling cigarettes within one kilometer
were surveyed. The study considered a cigarette pack to be illicit if it had at
least one of the following attributes: (a) has a duty free sign; (b) has no
graphic health warnings; (c) has no textual health warnings; or (d) has no
mention of "price inclusive of all taxes" or similar text.
Results
A
total of 11,063 empty cigarette packs were collected from 1,727 retailers and
2.73% of these cigarette packs were classified as illicit. The estimates varied
substantially across locations with the highest prevalence of illicit packs being
in Aizawl (36%). The share of illicit was found to be much higher (13.77%) among
the cheapest cigarette brands. Illicit cigarettes are primarily distributed via
more structured general stores compared to relatively informal tea/pan shops.
Conclusions
Our
estimate of the illicit cigarette market share of 2.73% casts serious doubt on
the tobacco industry estimates. It appears that any concerns of illicit
cigarette trade in India should not hinder the government from raising tobacco
taxes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:32:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b7266eca9d5c4356985b39087f4f00c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T18:32:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-03-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-b7266eca9d5c4356985b39087f4f00c62022-12-21T23:35:26ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252018-03-0116110.18332/tid/8378983789Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail surveyRijo M. John0Hana Ross1Health Policy Analyst, IndiaUniversity of Cape Town, Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, South AfricaBackground Tobacco industry estimates the share of illegal cigarettes in India at more than 20% of the total cigarette market and claims it has doubled over the past 10 years. However, there is a paucity of independent and scientifically verifiable estimates of illicit trade in cigarettes in India. This study, for the first time, intends to fill that void. Methods The study employed a modified approach to cigarette pack analysis. Empty cigarette packs from a single day's sale were collected at close of business directly from retail cigarette vendors in four metro cities and four smaller towns covering the length and breadth of India. Ten areas based on pin codes were randomly selected from each city/town and all shops selling cigarettes within one kilometer were surveyed. The study considered a cigarette pack to be illicit if it had at least one of the following attributes: (a) has a duty free sign; (b) has no graphic health warnings; (c) has no textual health warnings; or (d) has no mention of "price inclusive of all taxes" or similar text. Results A total of 11,063 empty cigarette packs were collected from 1,727 retailers and 2.73% of these cigarette packs were classified as illicit. The estimates varied substantially across locations with the highest prevalence of illicit packs being in Aizawl (36%). The share of illicit was found to be much higher (13.77%) among the cheapest cigarette brands. Illicit cigarettes are primarily distributed via more structured general stores compared to relatively informal tea/pan shops. Conclusions Our estimate of the illicit cigarette market share of 2.73% casts serious doubt on the tobacco industry estimates. It appears that any concerns of illicit cigarette trade in India should not hinder the government from raising tobacco taxes.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Consumption-of-illicit-cigarettes-in-India-findings-from-a-retail-survey,83789,0,2.htmlWCTOH |
| spellingShingle | Rijo M. John Hana Ross Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey Tobacco Induced Diseases WCTOH |
| title | Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey |
| title_full | Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey |
| title_fullStr | Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey |
| title_short | Consumption of illicit cigarettes in India: findings from a retail survey |
| title_sort | consumption of illicit cigarettes in india findings from a retail survey |
| topic | WCTOH |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Consumption-of-illicit-cigarettes-in-India-findings-from-a-retail-survey,83789,0,2.html |
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