Despite Ban, Sale of Chewable Tobacco Products Rising in Kangra District

Vendors source supplies from Punjab and charge inflated prices from consumers

Despite a state-wide ban on the import, transport, storage, and sale of chewable tobacco products, the illegal trade of gutkha, khaini, pan masala, and similar banned items continues to thrive in Kangra district’s inter-state border areas, including Nurpur, Indora, Jawali, and Fatehpur. Authorities appear to be turning a blind eye to the open violation of the ban and the easy availability of these products.

These tobacco products are being discreetly sold at select shops where customers can easily buy them at inflated prices. Regular consumers have identified the vendors who sell the banned items under the counter and are willing to pay extra for them. Migrant workers and daily wage laborers remain among the most frequent users of such products. Meanwhile, the concerned government departments have taken little to no action.

The BJP government led by P.K. Dhumal had imposed a strict ban on the sale of tobacco products in Himachal Pradesh in 2012 and ensured its effective enforcement. However, over time and with changes in administration, violations of the ban have become increasingly open. Within a few years of the ban, traders began selling these items at higher prices, and habitual consumers raised no objection to the inflated rates. A ₹10 packet now sells for ₹15–20, while a ₹5 packet goes for ₹10.

Investigations have revealed that local shopkeepers procure these banned tobacco products from neighboring Punjab. Medical experts and anti-drug activists in the region warn that tobacco consumption often acts as a gateway to substance abuse, as users gradually shift toward synthetic drugs.

Dr. Tushar Saini, who treats addiction patients at the Nurpur Civil Hospital, noted that certain tobacco products, such as “Cool Lip,” have even started attracting schoolchildren, who consume them thinking they are mouth fresheners. “These students eventually move on to other forms of tobacco like gutkha, khaini, and cigarettes,” he said. “Regular use of chewable tobacco weakens both mental and physical health, often leading consumers down the path toward synthetic drug use.”