India: Paan-shop Owners Wait and Watch

Source from:  The Times of India 09/11/2012

Paan-shop owners say they have adopted a wait-and-watch policy over the ramifications of the gutka ban which will be implemented in the state from Tuesday. Prakash Gupta, who runs a pan shop, said gutka sales accounted for 40% of his total sales, 50% was paan-masala plus chewing tobacco mix. Non-tobacco products accounted for only 10% of sales. "We had stopped stocking gutka for the past week in the run up to the ban. We also do not know how the public will react to the ban and if they will fall back on other tobacco products to satiate their cravings", said Gupta. However, the view was unanimous that gutka eaters will not be able to completely shift to the chewing tobacco and pan masala mix as it costs between Rs 7-10 while a gutka pouch costs Re 1. "The majority of poor people will not be able to afford the tobacco-mix products," said Gupta. However, there were views that people might mix regular tobacco with pan masala to get the feel of gutkha. Enditem