The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: India and the United States (US) partnered to produce a comprehensive scientific review of bidis. The forthcoming monograph describes product characteristics, toxicology and pharmacology, prevalence, disease consequences, economics, and policy; topics are explored from Indian and US perspectives. This session previews four chapters including youth prevalence and legislative and regulatory policies in each country, and highlights current challenges and implications for emerging tobacco issues.

Methods: Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey in the US and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in India were analyzed for bidi prevalence. US Customs data were analyzed for trends in bidi importation. Legislative and regulatory data, including taxation and labor policies, and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) were analyzed when applicable.

Results: Each country's unique situation related to tobacco influenced the response to bidi use. In the US, flavored bidis became popular with youth in the mid-1990s; surveillance efforts captured an emerging trend, resulting in policies and legislation designed to limit youth access to bidis, and in some regions, bans on the sale of bidis. Subsequently, prevalence in the US has decreased significantly since the late 1990s. In India, non-flavored bidi use is prevalent among adults, though youth prevalence is lower. Current policies around bidis are labor welfare, consumer protection, and fiscal policies. Lack of taxation and pricing policies contribute to their popularity in India and other Asian countries. The impact of the Indian Tobacco Act, 2003 and the FCTC will be examined in light of bidi prevalence data.