Cigarettes to Burn Holes in Your Pocket With 16% Tax Hike

The government has raised the customs charge on cigarettes, making smoking a costly habit. The announcement was made in Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget presentation. The cigarette tax would be raised by 16%, according to the finance minister. Cigarette stocks, including Godfrey Phillips India and ITC Ltd., fell up to 5% on the BSE on the announcement.

On the BSE, Godfrey Phillips fell as high as 4.92 percent to Rs 1,828.75, while Golden Tobacco fell 3.81 percent to Rs 59.4. ITC shares were trading 0.78 percent lower on the market at Rs 349.

NTC Industries fell 1.4 percent, while VST Industries fell 0.35 percent.

Aside from cigarettes, gold jewelry will become more expensive as basic customs charges on products created from gold bars are raised. However, the government cut the basic customs charge on seeds used in the production of lab-grown diamonds.

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Once you Start, It's Hard to Stop

Smoking is a difficult habit to break because tobacco contains the highly addictive chemical nicotine. The nicotine in cigarettes, like heroin or other addictive narcotics, quickly becomes habitual in the body and mind. Soon, a person requires it just to feel normal.

People begin smoking for a variety of reasons. Some people believe it's cool. Others begin because members of their family or acquaintances smoke. Almost all adult tobacco users began smoking before the age of 18. Most people did not anticipate becoming addicted. That's why it's so much easier to avoid smoking altogether.

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What about Electronic Cigarettes and Hookahs?

People become addicted to substances other than cigarettes.

Be wary of vaping as well. Battery-powered e-cigarettes take nicotine, flavorings, and other potentially hazardous compounds and convert them into vapor that the user inhales.

Some individuals believe that because e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they are safer than traditional cigarettes. However, the other components in them are also hazardous. In fact, there have been cases of major lung damage and even death among e-cigarette users. As a result, health professionals strongly advise against using them.

You are aware that smoking is harmful to your health. This has been known for decades. But you might be astonished at what it can do and realize that these widespread beliefs are false.

Nicotine is one of over 5,000 compounds found in tobacco smoke. When smoked, nicotine is very addicting. People who smoke are addicted to nicotine, but the tar and other substances in tobacco hurt them.

Many of the compounds are carcinogenic. Others, such as hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia, are poisonous. When you smoke, these toxins not only harm your lungs, but they also enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body. Smoking has the potential to harm every organ in the body, from the skin to the brain.

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Impact on Lungs

Second-hand smoking (or breathing in other people's smoke) is a leading cause of numerous lung disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and lung cancer. According to the most recent NHS data, smoking is responsible for 35% of all respiratory-related deaths. The most effective treatment for a smoker with a lung ailment is to quit smoking.

The Dangers of Passive Smoking for one's Health

Secondhand smoke is produced by the tip of a lit cigarette and the smoke expelled by the smoker.

Breathing in secondhand smoke, commonly known as passive smoking, raises your chances of developing the same health problems as smokers. For example, if you have never smoked but have a smoking spouse, your risk of acquiring lung cancer rises by around a fifth. Children and babies are especially vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoking.

Passive smokers are more likely to develop chest infections, meningitis, and a persistent cough, and their asthma symptoms will worsen. They are also at a higher risk of cot death and an ear infection known as glue ear.



Source-Medindia