Cheap pleasure with high risks for Beedi smokers

Rasika Somarathna

Authorities yesterday voiced concern over the growing number of Beedi smokers in the country although the number of Cigarette smokers have rapidly decreased in the recent past. Excise Commissioner General Wasantha Hapuarachchi said that the use of White Cigarettes (Sudu beedi) and the normal beedi was quite prevalent with low income earners.

A beedi in comparison to a cigarette’s costs lesser with the former priced at over Rs.19.00 each and the latter costing between Rs. 1.00 – 1.50. When it comes to anti-tobacco policies, the relevant authorities seem to forget the poor. While increased taxation is found to have being a deterrent for smokers the price increases are only for cigarettes. Beedis, are an equally injurious form of smoking, usually consumed by the poor.

Hapuarachchi commenting on the matter compared Beedi manufacturing to moonshine production and said that while Liquor manufacturing had a proper distilling process this was not so with moonshine production, indicating that harmful contents to health in beedi could be much higher to that of Cigarettes.

He also said that over 200,000 people may depend on the income earned by the beedi business to make a living.

He added that taking legal action on the manufacturers was difficult due to several matters including loopholes in the law.

When contacted another expert involved in the country’s anti-tobacco drive for a long period commented that there was no law in the country to effectively deal with Beedi manufacturers and no taxation is levied. The same source said that currently moves were afoot to get them registered with the Excise Department and to levy taxes subsequently.

Although details regarding the number of beedi smokers is not available due to logistical reasons the numbers are considered to be significant with the usage being quite popular in rural areas and especially in the estate sector.

The matters related to beedi use surfaced during a workshop on Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(FCTC) organized by the Jeewaka Foundation, for relevant stakeholders yesterday.

The workshop was also attended by Prof. Carlo Fonseka National Authority on Tobacco and Alcohol Chairman, Dr. Terence De Silva – Health Ministry Deputy Director General (Medical Services), Dr. Lakshmi Somatunge – Director (Mental Health) NATA officials, Medical professionals and the Media.