Changes in prevalence of alcohol and tobacco consumption across districts of India, 2016 and 2021.

BACKGROUND

India witnessed a rise in alcohol and tobacco consumption in the last few decades. However, the burden varies because of the huge population, diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and geographical characteristics, and different liquor policies across states. To understand the burden and progress, it is crucial to examine the consumption patterns at smaller geographical units. This study examines the trends and patterns in alcohol and tobacco consumption across 720 districts nested within 36 states (Union Territories) between 2016 and 2021.

METHODS

We used the fourth (2015-16) and fifth (2019-21) rounds of the National Family Health Survey of India. Both rounds provide the district-representative sample for the estimation. We used a 4-level (level 1-individuals; level 2-clusters; level 3-districts; level 4-states) random effects model to compute the predicted probabilities of alcohol and tobacco consumption (among males and females) for 720 districts in India. We used decile positions to map the consumption prevalence across districts.

RESULTS

Between 2016 and 2021, alcohol and tobacco consumption among men in India declined significantly, with national alcohol usage dropping from 29.2% to 17.5% and tobacco from 44.5% to 32.6%. The variation attributable to states for both alcohol (40.5% in 2016 and 56.6% in 2021) and tobacco (58% in 2016 and 68.3% in 2021) consumption among men was higher in 2021 as compared to 2016. The consumption of both tobacco and alcohol was notably high in the north-eastern states among both men and women. More than 80% of the districts reported a moderate to high reduction in alcohol consumption for men between the two rounds.

CONCLUSIONS

The national decline in tobacco and alcohol consumption indicates progress. However, there remains a need for continuous and targeted interventions to target high-consumption pockets and address geographic disparities. The results of the present study indicate that interventions focusing on changing tobacco and alcohol consumption should consider the geographical variation at smaller administrative units. By implementing evidence-based policies and interventions suited to the needs of the local areas, public health authorities can continue to make significant strides in improving the health and well-being of the population and reducing the burden of alcohol and tobacco-related diseases.