India facing smoking death crisis

camelgirl · Feb 14th, 2008, 22:56

Hey, don't forget bidis! Those cute, innocent looking natural products smoked by everyone--tourists because they look so cool, peasants/farmers, etc. because they are very cheap.

I stopped smoking almost 40 years ago but used to like to have a bidi when I was in India because they seemed so innocent--until I found out they are as bad or worse than ciggies!

http://smoking.ygoy.com/is-smoking-bidis-safe/

I believe young people in India view smoking cigs as a sign of sophistication and wealth. Only people with money could afford Marlboros. Also, it's been shown in study after study that young people never think about what something will do to them in the future. Old people are boring and who cares what they have to say!

And that's not just in India!

SORRY

just read the original article and it does talk all about bidis!!

Sama · Feb 14th, 2008, 23:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by terreneuve

...mortality is something people only really care about when it's iminent (i.e. when their older), and by then it's probably already too late.

yup, death is certain, but the time of death is not.

who knows? a smoker might get hit by a car crossing the street to buy a pack of cigs. just the nature of reality!

but what do us old farts know, we got Death breathing down our necks....

PeakXV · Feb 15th, 2008, 00:03

"People chewing tobacco in paan are over five times more likely to be at risk of oral cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now regards the betel nut itself to be a known human carcinogen. In making this new finding, the working group had available recent epidemiological studies from India and Pakistan which allowed to disentangle the effect of betel quid with and without tobacco, and studies from Taiwan (China), where tobacco is not added to the betel quid."
..... read the full bulletin

As for wine, I would be more concerned with the chemicals used to protect/grow the grapes and the handling procedures leading up to the bottling process - as infinitely more dangerous than the effects of the minor consumption of alcohol on the liver.

shashank.aggarwal · Feb 15th, 2008, 00:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by YogaGal

and how much is a pack of smokes in india? and are american brands sold?

In Indian common cigarettes start from Rs.4-5 a pack (10 without filters) and go upto Rs.90-100 (20 sticks of Malboro/Benson & hedges) however most commonly sold ones are in range of Rs.10 to 30 for a tenner..

And yes they are heavily taxed, and see around 5-10% increment in taxes/excise on yearly basis

PS : However the picture would be clear without noting the fact that most of the Indians population lives in villages and smaller towns and there 'Bidi' is more common,along with hukka. Even in metros Bidis are very common among the lower income group and older generation...A Bidi is Rs.3-5 for a pack of 20-30 sticks..however the tobacco content in an entire Bidi must be equal to 2-3 drags of a cigarette ...

Nick-H · Feb 15th, 2008, 00:24

Thanks for that: I'm glad this is getting some recognition and publicity in UK now.

shashank.aggarwal · Feb 15th, 2008, 00:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

I'm really delighted to find out how much anti-smoking the Indian government is.

I am glad Nick that we have found something about a Govt. that pleases you..

crvlvr · Feb 15th, 2008, 00:45

Random Thoughts...

I am still trying to see where the wisdom is in banning smoking in public places when automobiles (like the buses and trucks) put out a lot more carcvinogens than smokers.

I don't think it's the govt's job to keep the people "safe". Every individual should be able to choose his own poison.

Why are cigarettes legal and joints not? Espcially when cigarettes are addictive and just as, if not more, dangerous to health?

Beedies may be just as dangerous as cigarettes, but they provide employment to millions Indians, especially women.

the millions who die smoking, have to die some day. Its not like they would not have died if they did not smoke. As yogagal pointed out, if not by tobacco, there are many other causes of death.

Nick-H · Feb 15th, 2008, 01:24

Quote:

Beedies may be just as dangerous as cigarettes, but they provide employment to millions Indians, especially women.

The Indian government is following a similar line of argument about asbestos at the moment.

crvlvr · Feb 15th, 2008, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

The Indian government is following a similar line of argument about asbestos at the moment.

There is a difference between job hazard and a consumer making a choice (to smoke or drive without a seat belt etc,)

edwardseco · Feb 15th, 2008, 07:41

Quote:

As for wine, I would be more concerned with the chemicals used to protect/grow the grapes and the handling procedures leading up to the bottling process - as infinitely more dangerous than the effects of the minor consumption of alcohol on the liver

Anyway, the anticarcinogen effect of the antioxidents will counteract the ill effects and add a couple of years to life expectantcy..

Bigzero · Feb 15th, 2008, 10:06

Its an individual's choice - as long as they dont affect others with second hand smoke, it should be ok. However, most of those poor folks may not have a clue about the negative effects of smoking unlike the educated class.

A bit of personal experience..

I grew up in a family of smokers. My father, his brothers, everyone smoked. At home, in the bedroom, in the varandah, everywhere. Second hand smoke was impossible to avoid. Oh and that was the seventies, when heroes used to smoke onscreen, and smoking was cool. No one really talked much about the negative effects of smoking. This was Kerala, and the proportion of smokers was quite high.

My father & a couple of his smoker brothers died of cancer & related illnesses in their fifties. I had already picked up the smoking habit by then and had gone far too much ahead to stop it abruptly. I started smoking in 87 and used to smoke fairly heavily. However, marriage changed things. I started wondering about where all this is leading to, and realized that i had become too addicted. So i stopped - from around twenty cigarettes a day to zero in one day. Just like that. That was in 2000 ( after 13 years of smoking ) and I havent smoked ever since. eighth year running now.

Within a month, my weight started improving, my eyes cleared up, and I started looking younger ( i was looking at least 5-10 years older at that time ).

The biggest benefit for me is that i am not bringing up my kids in a home where smoking is normal. In fact the familiarity to smokers as kids does have a bearing on how easily one picks up the habit in their teens.

I had been away from Kerala from the early nineties, and visit there only once in a year. One heartening change I notice is that the number of young smokers have gone down steadily over the last 15 years or so. I believe this is some sort of trend across urban India in general.

However, booze consumption in Kerala has gone up by leaps and bounds.. thats another story.

My 2 cents.

edwardseco · Feb 15th, 2008, 10:12

Quote:

So i stopped - from around twenty cigarettes a day to zero in one day. Just like that. That was in 2000 ( after 13 years of smoking ) and I havent smoked ever since. eighth year running now.

Kudos to you BZ from another former addict. Marriage does force a longer term perspective..

Nick-H · Feb 15th, 2008, 11:02

And from me.

Genuine health fear did it for me, but like alcoholism, I know that I must never take nicotine in any form ever again.

Bigzero · Feb 15th, 2008, 11:45

thanks folks!.. Just to extend what Nick mentioned, you are just one puff away from being an addict again.

Prashant.M · Feb 15th, 2008, 15:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by crvlvr

Beedies may be just as dangerous as cigarettes, but they provide employment to millions Indians, especially women.

the millions who die smoking, have to die some day. Its not like they would not have died if they did not smoke. As yogagal pointed out, if not by tobacco, there are many other causes of death.

On the flipside there are also costs to the society like healthcare costs, productive people dying early or rendered unproductive thus disrupting the family and the social fabric. If a lot of people fall prey to this, for example tobacco, there will be a big cost that the society has to bear.

Feb 14th, 2008, 22:56	#31
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,082	Hey, don't forget bidis! Those cute, innocent looking natural products smoked by everyone--tourists because they look so cool, peasants/farmers, etc. because they are very cheap. I stopped smoking almost 40 years ago but used to like to have a bidi when I was in India because they seemed so innocent--until I found out they are as bad or worse than ciggies! http://smoking.ygoy.com/is-smoking-bidis-safe/ I believe young people in India view smoking cigs as a sign of sophistication and wealth. Only people with money could afford Marlboros. Also, it's been shown in study after study that young people never think about what something will do to them in the future. Old people are boring and who cares what they have to say! And that's not just in India! SORRY just read the original article and it does talk all about bidis!! __________________ My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

Feb 15th, 2008, 00:03	#33
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,333	There's danger in that betel quid ...... "People chewing tobacco in paan are over five times more likely to be at risk of oral cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) now regards the betel nut itself to be a known human carcinogen. In making this new finding, the working group had available recent epidemiological studies from India and Pakistan which allowed to disentangle the effect of betel quid with and without tobacco, and studies from Taiwan (China), where tobacco is not added to the betel quid." ..... read the full bulletin As for wine, I would be more concerned with the chemicals used to protect/grow the grapes and the handling procedures leading up to the bottling process - as infinitely more dangerous than the effects of the minor consumption of alcohol on the liver. __________________ We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time. T.S. Eliot Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions? Last edited by Nick-H : Feb 15th, 2008 at 00:22. Reason: Corrected the link syntax

Feb 15th, 2008, 00:24	#35
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Thanks for that: I'm glad this is getting some recognition and publicity in UK now. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Feb 15th, 2008, 10:06	#41
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,462	Its an individual's choice - as long as they dont affect others with second hand smoke, it should be ok. However, most of those poor folks may not have a clue about the negative effects of smoking unlike the educated class. A bit of personal experience.. I grew up in a family of smokers. My father, his brothers, everyone smoked. At home, in the bedroom, in the varandah, everywhere. Second hand smoke was impossible to avoid. Oh and that was the seventies, when heroes used to smoke onscreen, and smoking was cool. No one really talked much about the negative effects of smoking. This was Kerala, and the proportion of smokers was quite high. My father & a couple of his smoker brothers died of cancer & related illnesses in their fifties. I had already picked up the smoking habit by then and had gone far too much ahead to stop it abruptly. I started smoking in 87 and used to smoke fairly heavily. However, marriage changed things. I started wondering about where all this is leading to, and realized that i had become too addicted. So i stopped - from around twenty cigarettes a day to zero in one day. Just like that. That was in 2000 ( after 13 years of smoking ) and I havent smoked ever since. eighth year running now. Within a month, my weight started improving, my eyes cleared up, and I started looking younger ( i was looking at least 5-10 years older at that time ). The biggest benefit for me is that i am not bringing up my kids in a home where smoking is normal. In fact the familiarity to smokers as kids does have a bearing on how easily one picks up the habit in their teens. I had been away from Kerala from the early nineties, and visit there only once in a year. One heartening change I notice is that the number of young smokers have gone down steadily over the last 15 years or so. I believe this is some sort of trend across urban India in general. However, booze consumption in Kerala has gone up by leaps and bounds.. thats another story. My 2 cents. __________________ miles to go.... Bigzero's Photo Gallery

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Feb 15th, 2008, 00:45	#37
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,498	Random Thoughts... I am still trying to see where the wisdom is in banning smoking in public places when automobiles (like the buses and trucks) put out a lot more carcvinogens than smokers. I don't think it's the govt's job to keep the people "safe". Every individual should be able to choose his own poison. Why are cigarettes legal and joints not? Espcially when cigarettes are addictive and just as, if not more, dangerous to health? Beedies may be just as dangerous as cigarettes, but they provide employment to millions Indians, especially women. the millions who die smoking, have to die some day. Its not like they would not have died if they did not smoke. As yogagal pointed out, if not by tobacco, there are many other causes of death.

Feb 15th, 2008, 11:02	#43
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	And from me. Genuine health fear did it for me, but like alcoholism, I know that I must never take nicotine in any form ever again.

Feb 15th, 2008, 11:45	#44
Bigzero back to my old ways Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,462	thanks folks!.. Just to extend what Nick mentioned, you are just one puff away from being an addict again.

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