Cigarettes are subject to the 28% GST slab, which is further complicated by an extra compensating cess that, in certain circumstances, can reach 4,170 per 1,000 sticks, or about 290
Youve got to be nervous
When tobacco burns, it produces over 7,000 chemicals, including: Tar coats lung tissue and causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) Carbon monoxide reduces the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood Formaldehyde, benzene, arsenic known carcinogens Hydrogen cyanide disrupts cellular respiration The combustion process is the primary villain
Nevertheless, Professor John Britton, director of the UK Centre for Tobacco & Alcohol Studies, supports the PHE position: PHE has promoted electronic cigarettes as a health reduction strategy
Some harm reduction strategies encourage a complete switch to e-cigarettes for smokers who are unable to quit cigarette smoking 13