The Supreme Court has ordered for banning the sale of gutkha in plastic sachets.
The product is being sold in paper sachets for about a week now at most beeda stalls and highly resemble the plastic sachets.

But the consumers are shelling out more for their favourite product. While the maximum retail price (MRP) for a plastic sachet of gutkha was Rs 1.50, one paper sachet of gutkha is being sold for Rs 3.

Ramappa was consuming 10 to 12 gutka sachets daily. However, it has come down to 5 now. “Earlier Gutka of a particular brand was available for Rs 1.50. However, with the paper sachet, it has increased to Rs 3.

“If I keep the paper sachet inside my pocket, the whole pocket turns red,” he said. Due to the increased price, there has been lukewarm response to the gutkha in a new avatar,” said shop owner Venkatesh.