Taxing tobacco products may be deterrent to smoking: Experts

“It is important to remember that quitting smoking is a process and may require multiple attempts. However, with determination and the right support, quitting smoking is possible," say experts

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a 16 per cent hike in customs duty on cigarettes in the Union Budget for 2023, making smoking more expensive. But will this act as a disincentive for regular smokers? Health experts in the city do believe it will.

“Yes, there will be a reduction in smoking if there is an increase in price and taxes on tobacco products. However, the key aspect of smoking cessation is that the patient should decide to quit, then doctors can assist in quitting,” Dr Sudharshan K S, Consultant Pulmonologist at Fortis Hospital said. Various studies have been conducted on the issue.

Based on a study titled 'The Effect of Cigarette Prices on Cigarette Sales: Exploring Heterogeneity in Price Elasticities at High and Low Prices', increasing cigarette prices by 10 per cent reduces cigarette consumption by 3.1 per cent on average. While many users were found to reduce smoking when the prices shot up, a handful in turn switched to cheaper brands. “It is important to remember that quitting smoking is a process and may require multiple attempts.

However, with determination and the right support, quitting smoking is possible. We generally encourage individuals to seek help from a healthcare provider if they are having difficulty quitting, as there are many effective treatments available,” said Dr Vivek Anand Padegal, Director - Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital.

“This (hike in cigarettes) is in line with the healthcare community's belief that higher cigarette prices can act as a disincentive for individuals to maintain their smoking habit. This move is aimed at promoting public health and reducing the burden of smoking-related diseases on the country's healthcare system,” Dr Anand explained.

“Every physician should follow the 5 A's – ask, advise, assess, assist and arrange, for smoking cessation when a patient enters their outpatient department. Different types of treatments like psychotherapy, counselling, nicotine replacement therapy, and anti-depressants can help with smoking cessation,” Dr Sudharashan K S added. Research in tobacco control across six states - Karnataka, Assam, Gujarat, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir - revealed that cigarette smoking prevalence is highest in Karnataka, at 63.68 percent.

The report also stated that ground-level implementation of tobacco control is lacking in these states, and needs to be improved. National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-2021) has revealed that 32.3 percent of women and 27.8 percent of men in the age category of 15-49 years old in Karnataka tried to stop smoking or using tobacco in the 12 months preceding the survey.

According to doctors the measures one must take in order to quit smoking entirely include setting a quit date and sticking to it, seeking support from friends, family, or support groups, using nicotine replacement therapy, such as gum or patches, trying behavioural therapies, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy or counselling, exploring prescription medications, such as bupropion or varenicline, staying active and finding healthy ways to manage stress, avoiding triggers, such as alcohol or certain people, places, or activities and celebrating milestones along the way