In a much welcome decision, the government has declared all brands of 'gutka' a highly smuggling-prone item, liable to strict prosecution on confiscation under the Customs Act, 1969. However, the relevant SRO applies to a long list of smuggling-prone items, which means gutka smuggling will fall within the mischief of the law only if the value of the confiscated items exceeds Rs 0.1 million.
Considering that it is used in small quantities and most consumers can easily afford the price, even modest amounts can go a long way. The measure, therefore, is likely to have little impact on gutka availability in the market. Gutka, smuggled in from India, is made from tobacco, crushed betel nuts, lime, certain herbs and sweetening flavours. Because of the nicotine content of tobacco, it is highly addictive and a serious health hazard.
In fact, betel nut is no less injurious to human health. According to health experts, both tobacco and betel nuts are carcinogenic. Together, they are associated with adverse side effects on gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, and also known to cause psychological problems. Regular and large amounts of gutka intake can act as an intoxicant, causing, among other problems, psychosis, confusion, impairment of judgement and euphoria. Yet it is sold everywhere to anyone interested, including school children.
There have been some calls to stop its sale, especially outside schools. During recent days, the Karachi city administration is reported to have started a drive to try and restrict gutka use. But it is unlikely to have much success as long as the thing is available in the market. For, experience shows that people will continue using most addictive substances as long as the supply chain is active.
Given the hazards involved, a ban on the sale of gutka is desirable. If for some reasons doing so is impracticable, the government at least should adopt strong control measures. These should include: one, the sale of the substance should be forbidden to persons below 18 years of age. Two, all packets must contain a health warning, listing all the problems it can cause. Third, its production should be subjected to quality control, to ensure the ingredients do not exceed permissible safety limits.
Forth, and most important, the health ministry needs to run an awareness campaign. This is vital because most people, especially parents, are ignorant about the health risks of gutka use. The government has a responsibility to ensure that unsuspecting individuals are not exposed to this harmful substance. Any extra resources spent on preventive measures will be more than balanced out when less and less people fall ill on this account, thereby reducing public health medical expenditure.