Cheap herbal cigarettes/bidis widely available online and marketed as ‘healthy’ option

 

Herbal Bidis and herbal cigarettes are now widely accessible online and promoted as a “healthier” alternative to conventional tobacco-based products. These products often consist of a blend of herbs, spices, and other natural ingredients; they do not contain nicotine, tar, or other harmful substances in conventional cigarettes. Paper cigarettes known as herbal or organic cigarettes are made of herbs like basil, lemongrass, spearmint leaves, rose petals, green tea, and others. To change flavours, different ratios of these herbs are combined. They don’t have any tobacco or nicotine in them.

Why have cheap herbal cigarettes/bidis become an internet sensation?

Due to the fact that they provide an alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, inexpensive herbal cigarettes/bidis have become an internet craze. Because they are thought to be healthier than conventional cigarettes and to contain less chemicals, herbal cigarettes are growing in popularity.

Additionally, they come in a variety of flavors and are typically less expensive than traditional cigarettes. They can also be purchased online, giving customers even more access to them.

HSPs, or herbal smoking products, are promoted as a healthier substitute for tobacco. These are easily accessible and reasonably priced on retail websites online. The goal of this study was to evaluate the informational material on HSP that was available on the most popular web platforms.

Using the HSP-related content Google, Yahoo, Bing, and YouTube web platforms we looked for more exposure.

There were 94 video records and 174 still images. Manufacturers or suppliers provided 35.6% of the still records that were included, whereas 12.1% were of scientific origin. The general public posted 83% of the video recordings. Ninety percent of the records that were included made no mention of age limitations. Instillation of HSPs was encouraged in 87.2% of the video records and 67.8% of the still photographs. There is a vast amount of information available online, much of it provided by the general population without any support from science and exclusively advocating the use of HSPs.

There were further claims that it may improve mood, heal jet lag, increase energy or focus, and aid digestion.

Only 16% of the websites made it clear that the FDA or any other regulatory body had not investigated the claims.

Less than 3% The study was limited to online sites in the English language only, and the researchers agree that search engine optimization would differ from nation to country, thus their findings may not be applicable elsewhere. Additionally excluded were bulk product dealers who operate on the internet.

Under the guise of being a safer alternative to tobacco smoking and being nicotine-free cigarettes clove cigarettes, Herbal Cigarette, organic cigarettes, natural cigarettes, herb cigarettes, herbal bidi, ayurvedic bidi, tobacco free Herbal Bidi, tobacco and nicotine free Herbal Bidi, these smoking products are being offered without any age limit or verification.

respondents advised that “Any sort of smoking is harmful to health.” Additionally, none of the sale websites mentioned any potential risks related to smoking these products.

Only about one in five (22%) of the featured retail web pages specified “not to be sold to minors,” and two thirds (67%) did not ask for any confirmation of age before purchase.

According to statistics, herbal cigarettes and bidis are very popular.

-Over 400% more people have searched for “herbal cigarettes” online since 2016.

-In 2018, 6% of all Google searches connected to tobacco were for herbal cigarettes.

-Since 2016, there are now more than 500% more websites selling herbal cigarettes.

-Sales of herbal cigarettes have increased by more than twofold in the US since 2014.

-An herbal cigarette typically costs $1.50 versus $3.50 for a normal cigarette.

-Currently, more than 20 nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, sell herbal cigarettes.

They draw the conclusion that this emphasises the urgent need to focus on all types of smoking goods, including tobacco-free products, prioritize public health, and actually create a smoke-free future.