A WHO India study reveals that gutka bans are considered good for the health of India’s youth

16 DECEMBER 2014 - Mumbai- There are strong indications that state-level laws banning gutka are having a positive impact – reduced product availability and a decrease in consumption of gutka, according to a study conducted by World Health Organization Country Office for India in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The study conducted in seven states (Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Orissa) and the National Capital Region revealed that the support for gutka bans is very high (92%) across the studied jurisdictions and there was an almost universal agreement (99%) that gutka bans are good for the health of India’s youth.

“These findings have a strong message that regulatory mechanisms are effective and can have a positive impact on the consumption pattern,” said Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative to India.

“The study has revealed that product bans did impact use. Of the respondents who continue to use pre-packaged gutka, half (49%) reported they consume less since the ban. I am also happy to learn that there was high degree of unanimity (90% of the respondents) that the government should ban the manufacturing, sale and distribution of other forms of smokeless tobacco,” she added.

However, sharing a word of caution, Dr Pradeep Krishnatray, Director, Research and Strategic Planning at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communications Programs said, “Most of the respondents are purchasing tobacco and mixing it with a packet of pan masala with zarda. This innovation has adversely affected the very purpose and consequent impact of the ban.”

Expressing concern that smokeless tobacco use continues to be viewed as culturally acceptable and that people continue to initiate use, Dr Menabde said, “More needs to be done to support people to successfully quit using tobacco and we need to continue to denormalize use to protect public health”.

Some of the other key findings of the study are:

• Post the bans, most gutka users report purchasing ingredients separately and combining/mixing their own gutka. However, 15% of respondents continue to purchase pre-packaged gutka.
• Interest in quitting is high - approximately half of respondents reported attempting to stop using gutka in the last year. Approximately 80% of respondents agree that the gutka bans will help people to quit.
• Of the respondents that quit since the bans, a substantial proportion in each state (from 41- 88%) reported that they “quit using gutka because of the ban”.
• The cost of pre-packaged gutka increased following the bans.
• There was virtually no retail outlet where pre-packaged gutka was on display.
• More than one-quarter of tobacco product retailers interviewed reported that they had been approached post-ban by a supplier to continue selling pre-packaged gutka.

Surveys were conducted with 1001 current and former gutka users and 458 tobacco product retailers to gain insight into the effect of the ban on consumer use and product availability. Observations of 450 retail environments and 54 in-depth interviews with government officials, enforcement officials and citizens working with civil society groups also informed the study.

Gutka, a form of chewing tobacco flavored with spices and sweeteners, is a major cause of oral cancer in India. In recent years, all states in India have banned the manufacturing, sale and distribution of gutka in an effort to address the astounding public health impacts caused by this deadly product.

For more information, please contact:

Mr Rajeev Varma
Senior Communications Officer
WHO India Country Office
New Delhi
Tel: 91-11-66564800
Mobile: +91 8826611139
E-mail:varmar@who.int

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