Rise in the Illicit cigarettes Trade-May harm your Health

1. RISE IN SALE OF ILLEGAL CIGARETTES Stepping into any cigarette store or a tapri, one would be surprised at the number of unknown brands that are selling cigarettes at a cheaper price. As this lockdown is on its sequel right now, an increase in banning tobacco products like cigarettes, 'zarda', pan masala, etc. has only increased. The fact that the government is turning a deaf ear towards the ripple effect of their ban is nothing but a sad reality. A closer introspection into facts shows that smuggled cigarettes form 25% of the domestic industry, as reported by Times of India. Also, The Federation of All India farmer Association (FAIFA) claims that across the nation, there has been an increase in smuggled, illicit and contraband cigarettes due to higher taxation on legal cigarettes. Recently, the giants of the tobacco industry had sent a petition to the government saying that smoking should not be listed out of essential items as, the argument states, if it was a health concern then items like chocolates, cakes, etc. should also not be included into 'essential items'. When we see various alcohol shops opening around the country, it raises a concern as there are many crimes that happen when a person is under the influence of alcohol. Does it bode well when people around the country are stuck inside? Unfortunately, no. The only solution right now is that people should bring the attention of this trafficking that is soon becoming a lucrative industry for many smugglers, to the higher authority. Across the world, there have been many countries that are breathing down on these traffickers to break the chain of demand and supply of illicit cigarettes. Also, there is another side to this concern, contrabands consist of questionable and harmful ingredients. Due to lack on stringent regulation on this growing illicit trade, contrabands will be sold and consumed in larger volumes due to lack of access to the indian brands. The lack of access motivates the smokers to settle for whatever is available and they are forced to consume illicit cigarettes. Almost 45 billion fake cigarettes containing arsenic, pesticides and rat poison are smoked in the UK each year. This is not just in the UK but across the world, people are rising up to the health and economic concern that counterfeit tobacco products

2. pose to the general population. It is high time that the Indian government too, rises to this occasion and moves beyond the presumptions of the past and embraces the present. Source:https://www.smokersforum.in/smokers-digest/detail/editorial/rise-in-sale-of-illegal- cigarettes