Youth Reaction on National Budget FY 2023-24: Context Tobacco Tax
Although the price of tobacco products has been increased in the proposed budget, the youth feel that the rate of price increase is disappointing. They say that this budget is an obstacle to creating a tobacco-free young society and creating a tobacco-free country by 2040 as announced by the Prime Minister.
Currently, 75 percent of the cigarette market is occupied by the lower level whose main consumers are mainly the poor and young people. A price hike of 50 paise per low-end cigarette will not discourage the poor and young population from taking up cigarettes. Because per capita income growth and price inflation are taken into account, cigarette prices have decreased in real terms compared to previous years. This will increase the consumption of cheap cigarettes at an alarming rate. A...