Pricing of tobacco products: Pre and post GST implementation.

There is ample evidence stating that any taxation policy that effectively increases the real price of tobacco products reduces its use. In the past, several countries have documented instances; wherein the intended effects of tobacco taxation were undermined by aggressive pricing strategies of the industry. However, there is a dearth of such evidence in Indian context. Hence, the current study was conducted to ascertain the changes in the retail price of locally available tobacco products during pre and post GST period in India. This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among all available tobacco products in the states of Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry and Telangana. The information on maximum retail price (MRP) pre and post GST implementation on tobacco products was gathered from the owners of Point of Sale (PoS), vendors and retailers of various tobacco products. The results showed that of the total 154 brands observed pre and post GST implementation, 33.12% [95%CI 25.75-41.15] did not exhibit any increase in their price. The proportion of tobacco product brands with decrease/no change in price was a higher in Meghalaya (PR = 44; 95%CI: 6.32-306.3), Odisha (PR = 23; 95%CI: 3.25-162.7) and Puducherry (PR = 1.48; 95%CI: 0.1-22.84) as compared to Telangana. As compared to cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (PR = 1.84; 95%CI 1.16-2.89) and bidi (PR = 1.74; 95%CI: 0.78-3.9) had more number of brands with a decrease/no change in price post GST implementation. Moreover, four new brands of smokeless tobacco were introduced into the market following GST implementation. The study clearly suggests a departure from the outcomes envisaged by taxation policy on tobacco products in the country. Given the importance of price as a determinant in tobacco use especially among youth, there is an urgent need for strengthening our tax regime for tobacco products.

Prevalence and factors associated with the sale of loose cigarettes at Point of Sale: A cross-sectional analytical study from four Indian states.

BACKGROUND: The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) has established that sale of loose cigarettes increases the affordability and accessibility of tobacco for minors. Acknowledging this threat to public health, the Department of Consumer Affairs, Government of India amended the Legal Metrology Act to prohibit sale of loose cigarettes. Regardless, over 70% of the total cigarette sale in the country is in the form of loose cigarettes majority of which is being sold at unrecognized, unrecorded and unregulated informal sector of economy. However, there is a paucity of studies examining the factors associated with sale of loose cigarettes and further research is warranted in the country to know the dynamics of this issue. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and the factors associated with the sale of loose cigarettes at Point of Sale (PoS) in the selected four Indian states. METHODS: A community based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among a total of 2044 PoS in the project states of Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry and Telangana using purposive sampling technique. The characteristics of tobacco vendors and the status of loose cigarettes sale were collected using a structured and pre-tested checklist. Proportion for prevalence estimate, bivariate and multivariable log binomial regression analysis were done. RESULTS: The prevalence of loose cigarette sale was 93.05% [95% CI: 91.89-94.1]. Sale of loose cigarette showed a significant association with area (aPR 1.03; 95% CI: 1-1.06; p = 0.025), sale of tobacco products to minors (aPR 1.07; 95% CI: 1.04-1.11; p < 0.001), sale of smoking aids to customers (aPR 1.05; 95% CI: 1.01-1.09; p = 0.02), sale of flavored chewable tobacco (aPR 1.08; 95% CI: 1.03-1.12; p = 0.001) and presence of pack warning (aPR 1.18; 95% CI: 1.11-1.25; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings infer an open disregard for the laws specific to sale of loose cigarettes at PoS. The factors associated with the sale of loose cigarette needs to be addressed through prompt implementation of the tobacco control laws and suitable policy formulation.

Communicating risk: Status of health warning labels on various tobacco products in Indian market.

BACKGROUND: Owing to the role of tobacco packaging as a strong medium of communication, display of health warnings on tobacco packs effectively impart health risks of tobacco consumption to those currently using or contemplating the use of tobacco. METHODS: This community based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 2044 tobacco product packs, each collected from a different PoS, to estimate the non-compliance of section 7, 8 & 9 of COTPA among various tobacco products and its association with the PoS characteristics. Data were collected by observation of PoS by field investigators and then purchase of a unique product from each vendor followed by a brief interview of the tobacco vendor. RESULTS: The study documented an absence of health warning label on 15.51% [95% CI: 13.99-17.13] of the total 2044 tobacco products collected. The non-compliance to 'quality of health warning picture' was lowest 5.96% [95% CI: 4.91-7.16] among the tobacco products with a health warning label. The multivariate regression model revealed that absence of health warning on tobacco product packs were higher among the PoS in rural area (aPR 1.38; 95% CI: 1.16-1.65; p < 0.001) and among street/mobile vendors (aPR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.22-2.24; p = 0.001). The PoS not displaying tobacco products (aPR 1.36; 95% CI: 1.08-1.72; p = 0.01), selling flavored chewable tobacco (aPR 1.67; 95% CI: 1.24-2.27; p = 0.001), not selling loose cigarettes (aPR 2.93; 95% CI: 1.94-4.43; p < 0.001) and with vendors not enquiring age proof (aPR 10.69; 95% CI: 1.59-72.09; p < 0.001) had higher proportion of tobacco products without health warning labels. A greater proportion of smokeless/local variety tobacco products (aPR 18.06; 95% CI: 12.31-26.51; p < 0.001) had absence of health warning label. CONCLUSION: The data provided by us have clear policy implications. We recommend regular enforcement activities to monitor the presence of health warning labels on tobacco product packs along and accurate printing of the same with adherence to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare templates.