Despite a notable reduction in cigarette smoking, the use of cigarettes such as beedi cigars remains a significant concern in Sri Lanka.
Continued beedi smoking, especially among the poor, demands sustained efforts and innovative approaches to control tobacco use, an IPS publication study reveals.
A new publication by the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka (IPS) titled “Strategies to Curb Beedi and Smokeless Tobacco Consumption in Sri Lanka,” by IPS researchers Priyanka Jayawardena, Dr Erandathie Pathiraja, and Nimesha Dissanayaka, explores the complex landscape of tobacco consumption in Sri Lanka and offers strategies to strengthen tobacco control efforts in the country.
Since signing the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) treaty in 2003, Sri Lanka has introduced several tobacco control policies related to the sale, taxation, pricing, and packaging of tobacco products. Due to its informal nature, the beedi industry is less stringently regulated in Sri Lanka. Tobacco consumption in any form is harmful to health, so it is imperative to control all forms of tobacco through comprehensive policy measures.
The findings of this study underscore the importance of effective non-cigarette tobacco product (NCTP) control strategies in Sri Lanka. However, the continued prevalence of informal cigarettes emphasises the necessity for comprehensive tobacco control initiatives that extend beyond solely addressing formal cigarettes. This includes implementing measures such as tobacco taxes, regulations, and public health campaigns, particularly targeting vulnerable communities. Developing effective NCTP control strategies for these communities is imperative to reduce beedi smoking.
