More smokers and drinkers in WB, Chhattisgarh: SRS
What's the story
According to Sample Registration System Baseline Survey 2014, West Bengal and Chhattisgarh have the highest number of smokers and alcohol drinkers respectively.
The Registrar of India released the data, according to which, one-fourth of men in West Bengal were smokers while one-third of Chhattisgarh men were alcoholics.
Among the 21 states surveyed, Maharashtra has the least number of male smokers (2%) and drinkers (2.7%).
SRS
What is the Sample Registration System?
In India, the Sample Registration System (SRS) is a large-scale survey that provides annual estimates of various indicators at sub-national and national levels.
SRS was started by the Registrar-General of India (RGI) in selected areas during 1964-65; currently, SRS is operational in 8854 sample units across states and union territories.
The results of SRS Baseline Survey 2014 were released recently by the RGI.
Smokers v Drinkers
More smokers than drinkers
The SRS survey data showed that the overall number of smokers (11.4%) is more than drinkers (10%) in India.
In both smoking and drinking categories, the 45-59 years age group has the highest number while 15-29 age group has the least.
The report states that the number of Schedule Tribe male drinkers is highest–18.2%; while, the number of Schedule Caste male smokers is more–16.3%.
Women
Number of female smokers and drinkers low
In comparison to the number of male smokers and drinkers, that of women is significantly low; overall female smokers and alcoholics are only 0.7% of total Indian women.
Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have the highest number of women drinkers.
13 out of 21 states have more drinkers than smokers, including Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana, where the highest difference between smokers and alcoholics was recorded.
South India
Andhra tops drinking list in the South
The SRS survey revealed that in the south, Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of male drinkers.
Andhra is closely followed by Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu; while, Karnataka has the least number of people who drink in the south.
Men in the age group of 45-59 years are the biggest alcoholics while the 15-29 years age group has the least number of drinkers.
Personal
5.5% youngsters consume alcohol in Andhra
In the south, the number of youngsters (the 15-29 years age group), who consume alcohol in Andhra Pradesh is the highest – at 5.5%, while that of its neighbor Telangana is the second highest – at 5.1%.
South Smokers
Andhra, Kerala top smokers' list too
According to the survey, Andhra Pradesh has topped the smoking list too, and Kerala ranked second; Karnataka also has more smokers than drinkers (based on age-group comparison).
Significantly, Andhra and Karnataka are major tobacco contributors in India.
Similar to the drinking category, middle-aged men are the biggest smokers.
The highest number of people who quit smoking in Andhra, Karnataka and Kerala are senior citizens.
Data
One out of seven smokers has quit
According to the SRS survey, 1.4% people in India (21 states) reportedly have quit drinking or smoking. For every seven male smokers and eight men who drink, there appears to be one person who quit their respective habit.