India’s efforts on levying tobacco consumption tax complex: implies WHO
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If you are regular cinema-goers, you will explicitly remember the short length video of how smoking can cause you cancer, or be a happy family life deterrent. During my one such visit, I did realize few people just giggling in whispers on the commercial being run each time before the movie; yet this initiative is rated as one of the most cost-effective tobacco-free campaigns of our times. If we go by the statistics it has 0.07 per person per quit attempts, and has a mass recall-making it a successful endevaour. Also, the recent amendment tabled by the Delhi government to give them (state) the flexibility to increase VAT on tobacco-related products is a welcome step in this direction.
On the contrary, World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed dissatisfaction over the measures taken by the Indian government to restrict tobacco use. We, as a nation, might pride ourselves in creating a complex tax structure for use of cigarettes. India has a tax policy of levying different taxes, depending on the length of the cigarette and filter. In few such cases, a premium brand which has a least length, yet a high price tag attached to it, may be subject to lower tax evasion. Hence the price-equation of affordability is reversed.
On the contrary, World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed dissatisfaction over the measures taken by the Indian government to restrict tobacco use. We, as a nation, might pride ourselves in creating a complex tax structure for use of cigarettes. India has a tax policy of levying different taxes, depending on the length of the cigarette and filter. In few such cases, a premium brand which has a least length, yet a high price tag attached to it, may be subject to lower tax evasion. Hence the price-equation of affordability is reversed.
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