Tobacco purchase age ‘may be raised to 25 years’

IANS/New Delhi

The Union health ministry is considering raising the minimum age for purchase of tobacco products in the country from 18 years to 25 years, an official said.

“Since it is a state subject we are considering writing to the state governments on the same based on recommendations being received,” Lov Verma, the health and family welfare secretary, said at the release of a report on ‘An empirical study of India’s fiscal policies against tobacco: A state level analysis’, here yesterday.

“Nearly 6mn people die due to tobacco consumption. Every six seconds one person dies globally due to tobacco use, accounting for one in 10 adult deaths,” he added.

The study, by the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), aims to highlight the need for a health-focused fiscal policy for tobacco among other things.

The study was funded by International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

According to the Report on Tobacco Control in India, 2004, annually eight to nine lakh deaths can be attributed to tobacco use in India, said Verma.

“In addition, 50% of cancers in males and about 20% of cancers in females can be directly attributed to tobacco use,” he added.

Quoting the study, Economic Burden of Tobacco Related Diseases in India, Verma said: “The global economic cost attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in 2011, for persons aged 35-69 years, amounted to Rs1,045bn -  of which 16% was direct cost and 84% was indirect cost.”

“Banning tobacco overnight is not the solution as there are a lot of other issues that need to be addressed. The banning would lead to displacement of many labourers who produce tobacco products. It has to be a gradual process,” he said.

The key findings of the study state that a 10% increase in cigarette prices will lead to an almost a 3% decrease in consumption and a 7% increase in government revenues.

It also said that cigarette excise can be increased by as much as 370% from present levels, leading to a 54% decline in consumption and 115% increase in revenue.

“The current tax rates on tobacco products are not only low, but the tax structure of tobacco products are complex and governance poor. As a result, tobacco taxes and therefore prices have not deterred tobacco consumption.

“Significant potential exists to hike tax rates in India to reduce tobacco consumption and mop up revenue for the government which is presently fiscally-challenged,” said Sakthivel Selvaraj, senior public health specialist, economics and financing, PHFI.