Gutka use often begins at a very young age. The product contains large amounts of sweeteners to conceal the bitterness of the tobacco, and children often consider it as a type of candy. Symptoms of cancer often appear by high school or college age. Social Custom does not permit children in India to smoke Cigarettes , so gutka use, being all but invisible to others, is the method of choice.
On 1 August 2002, Maharashtra State took the unusual step of placing a five year ban on all use of gutka (as a potentially hazardous foodstuff), but an active Black Market persists.
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