Ahmedabad: While paan shops reopened a week ago, users of tobacco products including cigarettes continue to ration their smokes.
The relief after the restricted lockdown didn’t last long for tobacco users as the availability of cigarettes and other products, especially preferred brands, remains sketchy at least in Ahmedabad.
A week after the lockdown was eased, most shops selling cigarettes and other tobacco products have run out of stock. “As soon as the shops opened, people bought their preferred cigarettes in bulk. Purchases went up by almost five times and stocks were exhausted in barely a couple of days,” said Sanjay Joshi, president, Paan Masala Shop Owners’ Association.
Most wholesalers of tobacco products have their stores in the Kalupur area of Ahmedabad, which has been categorized as a containment zone. “Wholesalers are unable to supply shops in non-containment zones. We are mulling over making a representation to the government to allow movement of tobacco products outside containment zones,” Joshi added.
The lack of availability tobacco products has led to black-marketing even after shops reopened. “We are forced to sell at a premium because we buy at a premium to be able to meet customer demand,” said the owner of a shop in Vejalpur on condition of anonymity.
Industry sources also said that more sales of cigarettes and other tobacco products in the grey market, it is not just customers but also exchequer that loses in terms of tax revenue.
The lack of stock has habitual smokers in a state of frenzy. “I smoked a single brand of cigarettes for most of my life. The lockdown changed this and sadly for the worse. I was forced to change brands and that too at a premium. It has taken a toll on my throat,” said Shantanu Chaturvedi (name changed), a Bodakdev resident.
Some took advantage of the lockdown and chose to quit smoking. “I used to smoke 10 cigarettes a day and was trying to quit for quite some time. When the lockdown was imposed, I thought it best to quit and thankfully I managed,” said Nishtha Patel (name changed), a professional.
