War on gutkha has just begun: Activists

MUMBAI: The state government’s decision to ban the sale of gutkha and pan masalas has kicked up a controversy.
While most people say it’s a step in the right direction, some opine that banning addictive substances may not solve the problem.
Conceding that parallel markets may spring up, public health experts nonetheless think that the ban is essential for sending out an unequivocal social message.“Every one of the patients I have counselled against gutkha in the last 16 years has asked me, ‘If it is so harmful, why is the government allowing it?’’’ said Viji Venkatesh, an anti-tobacco activist and cancer counsellor. “With the ban, gutkha won’t be so socially acceptable.’’ Surendra Shastri, who heads Tata Memorial Hospital’s Preventive Oncology department, added that although it may not entirely stop die-hard addicts, the ban will shield firsttime users. “We are especially keen to stop children from picking up the habit,’’ he said.
Moreover, high taxes may come along with as many problems as a ban. “High taxes on consumer products also lead to black markets,’’ said Prakash Gupta of the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
He notes that one-third of all exported cigarettes in the world are smuggled, often to countries where they are heavily taxed. He noted that adulterated gutkha sold in the black market was not huge concern since the original was pretty harmful in itself. Gutkha contains highly concentrated nicotine, the most addictive substance known to mankind.
Harmful though the effects may be, by banning an addictive substance, India is going against a European trend of relaxing norms.
The United Kingdom relaxed its laws on marijuana just last week, largely prompted by studies showing that excessive control of marijuana had pushed youngsters to harder drugs like cocaine and heroin.
However, extrapolating this to the Indian gutkha market may be simplistic. N.G. Wagle, president of the Association for Consumer Action on Safety and Health, admitted that gutkha addicts may switch to other forms of chewing tobacco.
But the switch is unlikely to be large.
Though anti-tobacco workers are upbeat, they face an uphill task. After all, the ban has been imposed only on gutkha and not all forms of chewing tobacco. It prohibits the manufacture, storage, sale and advertising of gutkha, but not its import or consumption. Finally, gutkha is classified as a food item,which some contend puts it under the purview of the central government.
This means that a state government may not be able to pass a law banning it, but only a notification. The notification would have to be renewed every year, leaving it vulnerable to political and commercial interests. There are also big questions about effectively implementing a ban that affects a Rs 2,500-crore industry.
Despite this, the ban is being hailed. NGOs, dentists, general practitioners, school teachers, the media—all have to pitch in to ensure the success of the government ban,’’ said Ms Venkatesh. “Our work has just begun.’’