Perspective Paper – Is Tobacco Marketing Overpowering Tobacco Control in India?

Shamim Akhtar

Laldinliana

Abstract

The tobacco industry has made a gradual move from developed countries to developing countries to expand its market. As part of this trend, tobacco companies in India invest a substantial amount of money in marketing activities. Although the government of India has gradually been increasing restrictions on marketing and sales of tobacco products, the creative and evolving marketing practices of tobacco companies have ensured that such measures have little effect. In this perspective paper, a critical evaluation of marketing practices used by the tobacco industry in India suggests that pro-tobacco marketing is a major hurdle towards bringing effective tobacco control policies and their successful implementation. It is demonstrated that the big tobacco companies in India backed by immense resources have been capable of countering the various legislative provisions for tobacco control in India through creative and manipulative marketing practices.

Keywords: Tobacco, Tobacco Marketing, Tobacco Control, Critical Marketing

Volume 12, Issue 2

December 31, 2021

Pages: 128-149

DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cbj.v12i2.85

 

Suggested citation:

Akhtar, S. & Laldinliana. (2021). Is tobacco marketing overpowering tobacco control in India? Colombo Business Journal, 12(2), 128-149. http://doi.org/10.4038/cbj.v12i2.85


Shamim Akhtar

Department of Commerce, Mizoram University, India

worldofshamim@gmail.com


Laldinliana

Department of Commerce, Mizoram University, India