30% people to quit smoking if cigarette prices go up significantly: Survey

A significant hike in cigarette prices could cause about 30% of smokers in the country to quit smoking and another 30% to reduce cigarette consumption, finds a recent survey by Unnayan Shamannay.

According to the survey, over 70% of the respondents said they would not reduce their spending on food consumption even if prices of cigarettes are increased.

On the other hand, some 31% of the respondents said they might reduce their food or other expenses to maintain their former level of cigarette consumption. But, the survey, finds that hardly anyone in this group has a family member aged below 15 years and thus they are not concerned about malnutrition.

The results of the survey, conducted in November-December 2021 on 650 low-income households in five districts of the country – including Netrokona, Gaibandha, Feni and Dhaka – were revealed at a discussion styled "Potential Impact of Tobacco Product Tax Rise" held at the Biswa Sahitya Kendra (World Literature Centre) in the capital on Wednesday.

Atiur Rahman, president of Unnayan Shamannay and former governor of the Bangladesh Bank, said in order to reduce the use of tobacco, tariffs should be imposed at a significant rate and emphasis should be laid on public awareness.

"The income of the people has increased more than the rate at which the tax on cigarettes has been increased in Bangladesh, so people are not giving up cigarettes. The current tariff structure for tobacco products is simple even though the government was announcing the goal of building a tobacco-free country in 2016," he added.

"If the production of tobacco increases on the basis of demand, taxes on the companies should be increased. And, if the production is less, taxes should be reduced," said Hossain Ali Khondakar, coordinator of the National Tobacco Control Cell.

The Philippines has already achieved significant success in this process, he added.

Professor Md Habibe Millat, Mostafizur Rahman, lead policy adviser at Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK-Bangladesh), and representatives from various anti-tobacco organisations and researchers also attended the discussion.