81 lakh lesser tobacco consumers since 2010

India has 81 lakh lesser tobacco users today than it had in 2010 with the overall prevalence of

tobacco use falling significantly by six percentage points in the past seven years. Relative

reduction measured by the fall in the number of people consuming tobacco has been much

higher at 17 per cent over this time.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey India 2016-17 reveals massive gains for India’s anti tobacco

efforts, revealing relative reduction in tobacco use by 33 per cent among 15 to 24

year olds and by 54 per cent among minors (15 to 17 years).

A major finding is the delay in the age of initiation into tobacco use by a year between GATS

1 (2009-10) and GATS 2 (2016-17). “There is an increase of one year in the mean age of

initiation of tobacco use from 17.9 years in GATS 1 to 18.9 years in GATE 2,” says the

survey conducted on the Health Ministry’s behalf by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences,

Mumbai.

The study shows Indian adults are using smokeless forms more over smoking forms of

tobacco.

Khaini, bidi and gutkha are the most commonly used tobacco items by Indian men while

women are using betel quid with tobacco, tobacco for oral application and khaini in the order

of preference.

“Smoking is largely a problem among men but smokeless forms are being used by both men

and women,” Dr T. Sunder Kumar of TISS, the lead researcher, said.

In terms of numbers, 26.7 crore (28.6 per cent) adults (everyone above 15 years) are currently

consuming any form of tobacco in India. More people use smokeless tobacco. “Every fifth

adult (19.9 crore people) uses smokeless tobacco and every 10th adult (10 crore) smokes

tobacco,” says the survey. Significantly, tobacco use remains more of a rural phenomenon

with 19.9 crore adults using it as against 6.8 crore in urban areas.

Experts say the findings are consistent with the government’s anti-tobacco policies, including

the recent decision to have 85 per cent of tobacco package area on both sides covered with

pictorial warnings and a previous decision regarding a pan-India ban on gutkha.

The survey shows pictorial warnings are working with 55 per cent smokers and 50 per cent

smokeless tobacco users admitting to have planned quitting tobacco. There is, however, no

change in levels of exposure to second-hand smoke at Indian workplaces despite the survey

reporting lesser exposure in homes.

Survey findings reveal gains

Between 2009-10 and 2016-17, the prevalence of tobacco use in India fell by 6% points

Prevalence down among 15 to 24 year olds from 18.4% to 12.4%. Mean year for tobacco

initiation up from 17.9 to 18.9

Expenditure on cigarette has tripled in 7 years and on bidi and smokeless forms doubled. 

Source: The Tribune