Keyuri Adhikari1, Mangesh S Pednekar1, Irina Stepanov1, Arjun Singh1, Sampada Nikam1, Hitesh Singhavi1, Vikram Gota1, Jasjit S Ahluwalia1, Pankaj Chaturvedi1, Prakash C Gupta1, Samir S Khariwala1. 1. Keyuri Adhikari, Research Fellow, Healis-Sehksaria Institute of Public Health, Mumbai, India. Mangesh Pednekar, Director, Healis-Sehksaria Institute of Public Health, Mumbai, India. Prakash C. Gupta, Healis-Sehksaria Institute of Public Health, Mumbai, India. Arjun Singh, Fellow, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Sampada Nikam, Research Fellow, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Hitesh Singhavi, Research Fellow, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Vikram Gota, Associate Professor, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Professor Pankaj Chaturvedi, Deputy Director, Centre for Cancer Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, India. Jasjit S. Ahluwalia, Professor, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States. Irina Stepanov, Professor, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, United States. Samir S. Khariwala, Professor University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Gutka is industrially manufactured in India and some Indian states have instituted bans on the sale of manufactured gutka as a public health initiative. We explored whether gutka was still available for purchase after the ban and also sought to observe methods of ban circumvention. METHODS: We visited 5 different markets at different locations separated by at least 15-20 km around the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) area, consisting of Mumbai and its satellite towns in Maharashtra, India during August- September, 2019. In each location, purveyors were queried as to the availability of gutka. RESULTS: Tobacco purchases were made in 5 locations/sections of MMR. At all markets, banned gutka was not displayed , and could only be purchased after requesting from the shopkeeper. Three methods of ban circumvention were observed: (1) packages marked 'export only'; (2) use of twin packaging in which pan masala and tobacco are sold together for immediate mixing to create gutka; and, (3) non-descript packaging without mention of 'gutka'. CONCLUSIONS: Although not readily displayed in shops, gutka is readily available in MMR, despite a statewide ban in Maharashtra. Marketers have used multiple methods to circumvent the statewide gutka ban.
OBJECTIVES: Gutka is industrially manufactured in India and some Indian states have instituted bans on the sale of manufactured gutka as a public health initiative. We explored whether gutka was still available for purchase after the ban and also sought to observe methods of ban circumvention. METHODS: We visited 5 different markets at different locations separated by at least 15-20 km around the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) area, consisting of Mumbai and its satellite towns in Maharashtra, India during August- September, 2019. In each location, purveyors were queried as to the availability of gutka. RESULTS: Tobacco purchases were made in 5 locations/sections of MMR. At all markets, banned gutka was not displayed , and could only be purchased after requesting from the shopkeeper. Three methods of ban circumvention were observed: (1) packages marked 'export only'; (2) use of twin packaging in which pan masala and tobacco are sold together for immediate mixing to create gutka; and, (3) non-descript packaging without mention of 'gutka'. CONCLUSIONS: Although not readily displayed in shops, gutka is readily available in MMR, despite a statewide ban in Maharashtra. Marketers have used multiple methods to circumvent the statewide gutka ban.