71% smokers won’t cut food spending if cigarette price rises: study

Seventy-one per cent smokers in Bangladesh will not reduce spending on food even if cigarette prices increase significantly, a new survey revealed today.

Research organisation Unnayan Shamannay conducted the survey.

The increased taxation on tobacco is widely regarded as the most effective strategy to reduce tobacco consumption, the organisation said.

But a few people have expressed their concern that increased tax on tobacco might have the unintended consequence of tobacco users reducing their food consumption to maintain their former level of tobacco consumption, it said.

The findings of the survey titled "Possible Impact of Increased Tobacco Taxation" was presented at an event at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro in Dhaka's Banglamotor area.