BrandWikiReturn

Gutka

WorldBrand briefing

AI supplement

Original synthesis to sit alongside the encyclopedia article below. Not part of Wikipedia; verify facts on Wikipedia when precision matters.

Gutka (also spelled gutkha) is a type of smokeless tobacco preparation originating in the Indian subcontinent, typically made from a mixture of areca nut, slaked lime, tobacco, sweeteners, and flavorings. Chewed orally, it has been linked to serious health issues including oral cancer, yet remains widely used in South Asia despite regulatory efforts to curb its consumption.

Key moments

  • 2005Maharashtra state in India initially bans gutka sales, though the ban is later overturned by the Supreme Court
  • 2011Indian government announces a nationwide ban on gutka, framing it as a major public health milestone
  • 2025India's Central Excise (Amendment) Bill includes gutka in duty hikes to maintain pricing and discourage use
  • 2026Multiple Indian states maintain bans on gutka production, storage, and sale, but widespread illegal trade persists

Public Health Crisis

Gutka consumption is a leading cause of oral cancer in South Asia, with the World Health Organization reporting that 71.4% of global smokeless tobacco users reside in India alone. The combination of tobacco and areca nut in gutka creates a carcinogenic mixture that damages oral mucosa over time, leading to precancerous lesions and eventual malignancy. Despite these risks, many users view gutka as a cultural norm or a practical aid for relieving hunger and boosting focus, particularly among manual laborers.

Regulatory Challenges

India has implemented some of the world's strictest tobacco control laws, including nationwide and state-level bans on gutka, but enforcement remains inconsistent. The fragmented nature of the gutka market—dominated by small, unregulated producers—makes it difficult for authorities to monitor production and distribution. Additionally, political lobbying by the tobacco industry and public resistance in regions where gutka use is deeply entrenched have undermined regulatory efforts. Some manufacturers have also found loopholes, such as removing tobacco from formulations to market gutka-like products as 'pan masala' while retaining addictive components.

Socioeconomic Implications

The gutka industry plays a significant role in the South Asian economy, employing millions of people in farming, processing, and retail. This economic dependence has made it challenging for governments to enforce full bans, as they risk displacing workers and losing tax revenue. At the same time, the healthcare costs associated with treating gutka-related diseases place a heavy burden on public health systems, creating a cycle of economic harm that outweighs the industry's short-term benefits.

Gutka is a type of betel quid and chewing tobacco preparation made of crushed areca nut (also called betel nut), tobacco, catechu, paraffin wax, slaked lime (calcium hydroxide) and sweet or savory flavourings, in India, Pakistan, other Asian countries, and North America.[1]

Using gutka is highly addictive and can cause various harmful effects such as head and neck cancer,[2][3] oral and oropharyngeal cancers,[4] coronary heart disease, as well as negative reproductive effects including stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.[5][6]

Gutka is manufactured in the sub-continent and exported to a few other countries, often marketed under the guise of a "safer" product than cigarettes and tobacco.[7] Reported to have both stimulant and relaxation effects, it is sold throughout South Asia and some Pacific regions in small, individual-sized foil packets/sachets and tins[8] that cost between 2 and 10 rupees each.[9] It is widely consumed in Northern India, Pakistan and the Madhesh region of Nepal. Gutka is consumed by placing a pinch of it between the gum and cheek and gently sucking and chewing, similar to chewing tobacco.[8] Due to containing cancer-causing substances, it is subjected in India to the same restrictions and warnings as cigarettes.[1][10][11][12] Highly addictive and a known carcinogen, gutkha is the subject of much controversy in India. Many states have sought to curb its immense popularity by taxing sales of gutkha heavily or by banning it.[13]

Characteristics

Gutka is a commercially produced form of smokeless tobacco. Manufacturers add sweet or savory flavors, making it more appealing to women and young people in some locations.[14] The combinations of gutka ingredients vary according to local preferences. Spices may include mustard, turmeric, anise seeds, cardamom, saffron and cloves.[8]

In addition to areca nut, nicotine, slaked lime, paraffin and catechu, it can be laced with thousands of chemicals.[15] It is a powdery, granular, light brownish to white substance. Within moments of chewing mixing with saliva, the gutkha begins to dissolve and turn deep red in colour. It may impart upon its user a "buzz" somewhat more intense than that of tobacco chewing, snuffing and smoking.

Gutka turns saliva bright red, and when it is chewed long and often enough it will stain a user's teeth bright red too. Saliva is generally spat onto a wall or at the ground, causing a red stain that is quite resistant to the elements. Some building owners have taken to combating this by painting murals of gods on their walls, with the idea that gutkha chewers would not spit on a god.[16][17][18]

"Quid chewing has claimed to produce a sense of well being, euphoria, warm sensations of the body, sweating, salivation, palpitation and heightened alertness, tolerance to hunger, and increased capacity and stamina to work."[19]

Health effects

Gutka is highly addictive, represents a major health risk, has no safe level use and is not a safe substitute for smoking.[20][21][22][23] Globally smokeless tobacco products like gutka contribute to 650,000 deaths each year with a significant proportion of them in Southeast Asia.[24][25]

Using gutka can cause a number of adverse health effects such as head and neck cancer,[2][3] oral cancer,[19] oral submucous fibrosis,[14] oesophagus cancer, and pancreatic cancer, cardiovascular disease, and asthma.[26] It also raises the risk of fatal coronary artery disease, fatal stroke and non-fatal ischaemic heart disease[5][6] When a person chews gutka, the mixture directly enters the system through the oral cavity, which absorbs 28 cancer-causing chemicals.

Gutka can cause adverse reproductive effects including stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight. Nicotine in gutka that are used during pregnancy can affect how a baby's brain develops before birth.[5]

Gutka use causes the production of various reactive free radicals that induce oxidative stress, particularly in oral tissues.[27] Gutka exposure can lead to the oxidation of guanine bases in DNA to form 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG or its tautomer 8-oxo-dG) as a major byproduct.[27] Exposure to Gutka tends to be highest in saliva and urine as evaluated by measuring 8-OHdG in DNA.

Creative advertising by tobacco companies and lack of accessible information for the public leads to many gutka users being unaware of the dangers it can bring. Often users believe that gutka can act as a digestion aid, kill germs, and generally give a sense of well-being.[28] In fact 34.4% of smokers have switched to smokeless tobacco use as way to quit[7] but there is no scientific evidence that using gutka can help a person quit smoking.[22][29] As of 2015 it was the fourth most common addictive product worldwide.[30][31]

Usage

Use of gutka and other forms of tobacco are culturally ingrained and use can begin at a young age.[7] Smokeless tobacco use is most common in India where oral cancer accounts for 30 to 40% of cancer cases.[32] Its use has been reported in Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Cambodia, China, Indonesia and New Guinea. Immigrants to the United Kingdom, parts of Africa, Australia, North America have brought their habits with them.

Gutka is readily available in these locations, especially in neighborhood Asian markets in highly populated areas.[33] Immigrants to the United States where spitting in public is not as socially acceptable, learn to be discreet.[34] Those in the lower socioeconomic populations are especially at risk. It is here that access to education and treatment is limited.[35] Easy access and extremely low cost lead to early addiction and the prevalence of gutka use.[36][37][38] Precancerous lesions have been observed in young children and symptoms of cancer often appear by high school or college age.

Smoking is not allowed in many places, and when done by children, is disapproved of. In contrast gutka use, being all but invisible to others, is the method of choice. A New York Times article reported in 2002 that sales of gutka and the tobaccoless version, paan masala, reached $1 billion a year.[39]

India

Over 25% of India's population use tobacco products including cigarettes and multiple forms of smokeless tobacco. India has the largest number of smokeless tobacco users in the world. The poorest populations are greatly affected due to the detrimental effects of its use and the subsequent costs of medical care.[7] Many Indian states have sought to curb the use and spread of gutka by taxing sales heavily or by banning it.[13]

They have banned the sale, manufacture, distribution and storage of gutka and all its variants. As of May 2013, gutka is banned in 24 states and 3 union territories.[40] The federal Food Safety and Regulation (Prohibition) Act 2011 allows harmful products such as gutka to be banned for a year. This can be renewed annually, resulting in a permanent ban. The ban is enforced by the state public health ministry, the state Food and Drug Administration, and the local police.[41] Enforcement of the law is generally lax and many shops still sell gutka, although it may not be displayed.[42][43][44][45][46] Enforcemnent is stricter in some regions like Mumbai and Delhi, but illegal sale of gutka still occurs.[36][47]

In 2019, the Delhi government extended the ban for one more year on Gutka, Pan Masala, Flavoured/Scented Tobacco, Kharra and similar products containing tobacco. In September 2012, State of Delhi banned Gutka and Pan Masala containing tobacco and/or nicotine. After the notification, Gutka manufacturers separated the components like tobacco from Gutka and Pan Masala. Since the term 'Gutka and Pan Masala Containing Tobacco' was used in the notification. The components like tobacco were manufactured and sold in separate pouches after the ban. The notification was revised in March 2015 to make it more strict and banned all smokeless tobacco (SLT) products including twin-pack.[48] Offenders can be fined or receive prison sentences.[49] The law has provisions of imposing fines up to inr 25000 on the sale of products that are injurious to health.[50]

Research firm Edelweiss estimates the gutka ban will cause the industry ₹15-20 billion in losses.[98]

Advertising

Like alcohol and tobacco products, there is a ban on advertisement of gutka. Often tobacco companies advertise gutka as pan masala in order to skirt the ban on advertising tobacco products. Surrogate advertisements often use pan masala ads to promote gutka products with similar name and packaging.[99]

According to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, misleading advertisement of such products invites a fine of inr 1000000.[100]

According to StraitsResearch, The India pan masala market is expected to reach US$10,365 million by 2026 at the CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period 2019–2026. The India pan masala market is driven by significant switching of consumers from tobacco products to pan masala, aggressive advertising and convenient packaging, and Maharashtra State's revocation of the ban over pan masala products.[101]

Advertising

Like alcohol and tobacco products, there is a ban on advertisement of gutka. Often tobacco companies advertise gutka as pan masala in order to skirt the ban on advertising tobacco products. Surrogate advertisements often use pan masala ads to promote gutka products with similar name and packaging.[99]

According to the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, misleading advertisement of such products invites a fine of inr 1000000.[100]

According to StraitsResearch, The India pan masala market is expected to reach US$10,365 million by 2026 at the CAGR of 10.4% during the forecast period 2019–2026. The India pan masala market is driven by significant switching of consumers from tobacco products to pan masala, aggressive advertising and convenient packaging, and Maharashtra State's revocation of the ban over pan masala products.[101]

See also

Further reading

  • Javed F, Altamash M, Klinge B, Engström PE. (2008). Periodontal conditions and oral symptoms in gutka-chewers with and without type 2 diabetes. Acta Odontol Scand; 66(5):268-73.
  • Javed F, Chotai M, Mehmood A, Almas K. Oral mucosal disorders associated with habitual gutka usage. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010;109:857-64.
  • Javed F, Bello Correa FO, Chotai M, Tappuni AR, Almas K. Systemic conditions associated with areca nut usage: A literature review. Scand J Public Health 2010; 38: 838–44.

External links

References

  1. CPAA: Quit Smoking Campaign, Anti Tobacco & Quit Smoking Campaign retrieved 30 May 2015^
  2. Oropharyngeal Cancer Treatment (Adult) (PDQ®)–Patient Version National Cancer Institute, 22 November 2019, retrieved 28 November 2019^
  3. Role of areca nut in betel quid-associated chemical carcinogenesis: current awareness and future perspectives Oral Oncology, September 2001^
  4. Mark Gormley, Grant Creaney, Andrew Schache, Kate Ingarfield, David I. Conway. Reviewing the epidemiology of head and neck cancer: definitions, trends and risk factors British Dental Journal, 2022-11-11^
  5. A. L. Vidyasagaran, K. Siddiqi, M. Kanaan. Use of smokeless tobacco and risk of cardiovascular disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2016, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  6. Ruchika Gupta, Sanjay Gupta, Shashi Sharma, Dhirendra N Sinha, Ravi Mehrotra. Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Among Smokeless Tobacco Users: Results of Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Global Data Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2019-01-01, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  7. Priya Mohan, Harry A Lando, Sigamani Panneer. Assessment of Tobacco Consumption and Control in India Indian Journal of Clinical Medicine, Sage Journals, 1 January 2018^
  8. CDC - Fact Sheet - Betel Quid with Tobacco (Gutka) - Smoking & Tobacco Use Smoking and Tobacco Use, retrieved 30 May 2015^
  9. Mohammed Shaukat. Tobacco control in India - achievements and remaining challenges WHO, Ministry of health and family welfare, retrieved 5 October 2018^
  10. Venkar Ananth. Thank you for smoking: A brief history of tobacco warning labels Live Mint, 1 April 2015, retrieved 5 October 2018^
  11. NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 2 February 2011, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  12. Kamal Niaz, Faheem Maqbool, Fazlullah Khan, Haji Bahadar, Fatima Ismail Hassan, Mohammad Abdollahi. Smokeless tobacco (paan and gutkha) consumption, prevalence, and contribution to oral cancer Epidemiology and Health, Us National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 9 March 2017^
  13. MP becomes 1st state to ban Gutka products containing tobacco Hindustan Times, 4 April 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  14. The truth about smokeless tobacco use www.emro.who.int, World Health Organization, Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  15. Annie Banerji. India "gutka" chewing tobacco habit a tough nut to crack Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 6 September 2012, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  16. Sandip Kolhatkar. Do not spit here, for god's sake! mid-day, 12 April 2013, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  17. Max Bearak. Officials in India are really sick and tired of their country's tobacco habit The Washington Post, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  18. Amitabha Bhattasali. Scheme to save Calcutta's Howrah Bridge from spit BBC News, 23 November 2011, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  19. Gunjan Shah, Pankaj Chaturvedi, Sagar Vaishampayan. Arecanut as an emerging etiology of oral cancers in India Indian Journal of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology : Official Journal of Indian Society of Medical & Paediatric Oncology, 2012^
  20. Recommendation on smokeless tobacco products World Health Organization, 2017, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  21. Health Risks of Smokeless Tobacco American Cancer Society, 13 November 2015, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  22. Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer United States Department of Health and Human Services, 25 October 2010, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  23. Royal College of Physicians of London. Tobacco Advisory Group. Protecting Smokers, Saving Lives: The Case for a Tobacco and Nicotine Regulatory Authority Royal College of Physicians, 2002, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  24. Dhirendra N Sinha, Rizwan A Suliankatchi, Prakash C Gupta, Thaksaphon Thamarangsi, Naveen Agarwal, Mark Parascandola, Ravi Mehrotra. Global burden of all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to smokeless tobacco use: systematic review and meta-analysis Tobacco Control, 2016^
  25. Aastha Chugh, Monika Arora, Neha Jain, Aishwarya Vidyasagaran, Anne Readshaw, Aziz Sheikh, Jappe Eckhardt, Kamran Siddiqi. The global impact of tobacco control policies on smokeless tobacco use: a systematic review The Lancet Global Health, June 2023, retrieved 2 June 2024^
  26. Kamal Niaz, Faheem Maqbool, Fazlullah Khan, Haji Bahadar, Fatima Ismail Hassan, Mohammad Abdollahi. Smokeless tobacco (paan and gutkha) consumption, prevalence, and contribution to oral cancer Epidemiology and Health, 2017^
  27. Comparative evaluation of salivary, serum and urinary 8-OHdG in gutka-associated oral submucous fibrosis J Oral Maxillofac Pathol, 2024^
  28. Kamal Niaz, Faheem Maqbool, Fazlullah Khan, Haji Bahadar, Fatima Ismail Hassan, Mohammad Abdollahi. Smokeless tobacco (paan and gutkha) consumption, prevalence, and contribution to oral cancer Epidemiology and Health, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 9 March 2017^
  29. ERS. ERS Position Paper on Tobacco Harm Reduction ERS - European Respiratory Society, 2019-05-29, retrieved 2024-05-30^
  30. Fen Wu, Faruque Parvez, Tariqul Islam, Alauddin Ahmed, Muhammad Rakibuz-Zaman, Rabiul Hasan, Maria Argos, Diane Levy. Betel quid use and mortality in Bangladesh: a cohort study Bulletin of the World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 25 June 2015^
  31. Fawad Javed, Milisha Chotai, Abid Mehmood, Khalid Almas. Oral mucosal disorders associated with habitual gutka usage: a review Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, Oral Surgery, Oral edicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology, 1 June 2010^
  32. SYED MUMTAZ ALI, REHAN QURESHI, SYED JAMAL. Pakistan Oral and Dental Journal^
  33. Kamal Niaz, Faheem Maqbool, Fazlullah Khan, Haji Bahadar, Fatima Ismail Hassan, Mohammad Abdollahi. Smokeless tobacco (paan and gutkha) consumption, prevalence, and contribution to oral cancer Epidemiology and Health, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, 9 March 2017^
  34. Smita C. Banerjee, Jamie S. Ostroff, Sehrish Bari, Thomas A. D'Agostino, Mitali Khera, Sudha Acharya, Francesca Gany. Gutka and Tambaku Paan Use Among South Asian Immigrants: A Focus Group Study Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 12 April 2013^
  35. Ken Russell Coelho. Challenges of the Oral Cancer Burden in India Journal of Cancer Epidemiology, 2012^
  36. Vivek Dsouza, Pratiksha Mohan Kembhavi, Praveen Rao S, Kumaran P, Pragati B. Hebbar. How does Indian news media report smokeless tobacco control? A content analysis of the gutka ban enforcement PLOS Global Public Health, 2023-03-27^
  37. Aswini Balappanavar, Vikrant Ranjan Mohanty, Abrar Hussain. Compliance with Tobacco Promotion and Sale Laws in School Neighbourhoods in India Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, US National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 1 February 2017^
  38. A.H.R.. The nut cracks: Half of all Indian states have banned gutka since April. More may follow The Economist, retrieved 7 December 2019^
  39. Amy Waldman. Sweet but Deadly Addiction Is Seizing the Young in India The New York Times, 13 August 2002, retrieved 8 December 2019^
  40. Cancer centres urge PM to ban gutka across India DNA India, 21 November 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  41. Govt to file caveat in HC today on gutka, paan masala ban The Times of India, 13 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  42. Why the gutka ban in Maharashtra won't work 13 July 2012, retrieved 13 July 2012^
  43. M. P. Praveen. Sale of pan masala thriving The Hindu, 16 June 2012, retrieved 13 July 2012^
  44. What ban? Gutka still sells The Times of India, 18 June 2012^
  45. Gutka ban not satisfactory, admits minister The Times of India, 20 January 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  46. Gutka continues to rustle undercover despite ban The Times of India, 29 January 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  47. Indians want their fix of gutkha & pan masala despite ban Business Standard, 16 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  48. Siddharth. Fact Check About Ban On Smokeless Tobacco Products In India The Health, May 10, 2019, retrieved September 8, 2019^
  49. Masand, Pratibha. Ban implementation may take few weeks The Times of India, 13 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  50. Himachal bans sale of Gutka, Pan Masala, Masheri & Khaini Hill Post, 13 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  51. Administration imposes complete ban on 'gutka' Andaman Sheekha, 1 November 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  52. Andhra Pradesh orders ban on manufacture, sale of gutka Deccan Chronicle, 10 January 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  53. Tripura, Meghalaya to ban gutka, Ruaab Pan Masala The Times of India^
  54. Singh, Bikash. Gutka, pan masala containing tobacco and nicotine banned in Assam Economic Times, 8 March 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  55. Assam govt imposes ban on gutkha Indian Express, 9 March 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  56. Bhatia, Banjot Kaur. World No Tobacco Day: Bihar govt bans gutkha, pan masala for 1 year The Times of India, 31 May 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  57. UP stand on gutkha ban contrary to earlier assurance: HC - Express In…^
  58. PIL seeks ban on tobacco, gutka in J&K Kashmir Times, retrieved 12 February 2013^
  59. The Government of Chhattisgarh banned Gutka and Pan Masala Jagran Josh, 27 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  60. HC refuses to lift gutka ban The Times of India, 13 October 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  61. Perappadan, Bindu Shajan. Delhi decides to ban gutka The Hindu, 11 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  62. Delhi bans gutka following High Court orders IBN Live, 11 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  63. Delhi government slaps ban on all gutka products The Times of India, 11 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  64. Goa to ban gutka consumption Economic Times, 27 September 2005, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  65. Gutka to be banned in Gujarat from 11 September: Narendra Modi Indian Express, 15 August 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  66. Gutka to be banned in Gujarat from 11 Sept.: Modi The Hindu, 15 August 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  67. Gutkha ban: Lone unit exempted Financial Express, 28 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  68. Himachal govt bans Gutka, pan masala products Zee News, 13 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  69. Haryana to ban food items having tobacco The Times of India, 13 August 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  70. Jharkhand bans production, sale of gutka/panmasala MSN News, 25 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  71. Jharkhand bans sale, manufacturing of gutka Firstpost, 24 July 2012, retrieved 30 May 2015^
  72. Mathew, Roy. Kerala bans pan masala and its variants The Hindu, 25 May 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  73. HC refuses to stay ban on pan masala 2 August 2012, retrieved 2 August 2012^
  74. Karnataka to ban gutka on 'World No Tobacco Day' The Times of India, 30 May 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  75. Madhya Pradesh bans gutkha and other chewing tobacco products Down To Earth, 3 April 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  76. Tripathi, Ashish. 'Ban gutka or we will', High court tells Akhilesh Yadav government The Times of India, 18 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  77. Ban Day 1: FDA set to root out gutka The Times of India, 21 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  78. Maharashtra bans gutka, paan m The Times of India, 11 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  79. Deshpande, Swati. Current ban on stronger footing than in 2002 The Times of India, 14 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  80. Bombay High Court upholds ban on gutka, pan masala in Maharashtra NDTV.com, 15 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  81. Tripura, Meghalaya take initiative to ban gutka and pan masala 23 April 2013, retrieved 30 May 2015^
  82. Mizoram bans gutkha products Indian Express, 18 October 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  83. Mizoram bans gutkha products Zee News, 18 October 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  84. Press Trust of India. Mizoram bans gutkha products Business Standard India, 18 October 2012, retrieved 30 May 2015^
  85. Call to replicate Mizoram ban in State The Assam Tribune, 9 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  86. Odisha rings in 2013 with gutka ban The Times of India, 2013, retrieved 2 January 2013^
  87. Business Line : News / States: Odisha bans gutkha, tobacco sale thehindubusinessline.com, 2013, retrieved 2 January 2013^
  88. Briefly Nation: Orissa bans use of gutkha - Indian Express indianexpress.com, 2013, retrieved 2 January 2013^
  89. Punjab bans sale of gutka, pan masala News.webindia123.com, 27 August 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  90. Rajasthan government decides to ban Gutkha Zee News, 18 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  91. Rajasthan government decides to ban Gutkha India TV News, 18 July 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  92. Sikkim bans gutkha DownToEarth, retrieved 12 February 2013^
  93. TN bans pan masala, gutka The Hindu, 8 May 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  94. After HC order, UP to ban gutka from April 1 next year, 2013 The Times of India, 4 October 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  95. Uttarakhand gutka ban now from January 1 The Hindu, 21 October 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  96. Finally, state orders ban on gutka The Times of India, 25 April 2013, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  97. Government of west bengal department of health and family welfare^
  98. Chandramouli, Rajesh. Gutka ban loss could be Rs 1500 - Rs 2000 crores The Times of India, 14 September 2012, retrieved 16 August 2013^
  99. Ban surrogate advertisements of tobacco products Deccan Herald, 20 June 2012, retrieved 10 July 2012^
  100. No relaxation on gutka ban The Times of India^
  101. Indian Pan Masala Market Share Analysis Industry News Wire, retrieved 20 February 2020^