Chewing tobacco being sold under the counter

Auckland public health officials are about to crack down on Indian retailers illegally selling chewing tobacco from their stores.

The tobacco, commonly used in India, can cause cancer of the mouth, damages the teeth and suppresses appetite.

Thousands of Indian people living in Auckland are thought to chew the tobacco - bought under the counter from Indian food and video stores - and there are fears that young people could pick up the habit.

Hemant Parikh, a DJ on Indian radio station Radio Tarana, is one Aucklander trying to give up a six-year chewing tobacco habit because of the health dangers. He used to chew at least 10 times a day and would spend about $50 every two weeks.

"It gives a burning feeling. It doesn't taste all that nice but your mouth gets a craving for it and you just feel like doing it all the time."

Mr Parikh said those trying it for the first time might feel drowsy, others experience a type of high. Different types of the tobacco were available. Sometimes it was mixed with betel nut and known as gutkha.

"In the old days people used to have it as a mouth freshener, after their meal to help with digestion, like an after dinner mint." He estimated thousands of people, mainly Indian, chewed tobacco in Auckland and he believed demand was growing.

Sunder Lokhande, Smokefree officer for the Auckland Regional Public Health Service, said the service received a complaint last month from a member of the public about tobacco being sold.

In 1999 three people were issued with warnings and information about the law after a complaint.

Under the Smokefree Environments Act 1990 it is illegal to import chewing tobacco for sale or distribution. Those who do face a fine of up to $10,000. But individuals are able to import small quantities for their own use.

Graeme Gillespie, manager of public health programmes for the Ministry of Health, said the ministry was looking at how it could define what a reasonable amount was. At the moment decisions were made case by case.

Mr Lokhande believed individuals were bringing chewing tobacco into the country in their personal baggage. From there it was being sold in stores. Public Health was planning to send a volunteer into stores to try to buy the product. Prosecutions were likely.