title: Effect of policy changes on cigarette sales: the case of Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 1996, Turkey made tobacco control a health priority. The tobacco control effort was extended in July 2009 with the expansion of the smoke-free law to include all enclosed workplaces and public places and, in January 2010, with a 20% increase in the Special Consumption Tax on Tobacco.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sales data were averaged, by month, for the period January 2005 through June 2009 to establish an 'expected' monthly sales pattern. This was the period when no new tobacco control measures were implemented. The overall monthly average was then calculated for the same period. The expected monthly sales pattern was then graphed against the overall monthly sales average to delineate a seasonal sales pattern that was used to evaluate the divergence of actual monthly sales from the 'expected' pattern.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A distinct seasonal pattern was found with sales above average from May through August. Comparison of actual cigarette sales to the 'expected' monthly sales pattern following the implementation of the expanded smoke-free law in July resulted in a 5.2% decrease. Cigarettes sales decreased by 13.6% following the January 2010 Special Consumption Tax. Since the implementation of the expanded smoke-free law in July 2009 and the tax increase in January 2010, cigarette sales in Turkey decreased by 10.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of recent Turkish tobacco control policies could contribute to a reduction in the number of premature deaths related to tobacco use. Evidence has shown that periodic tax increases and strong enforcement of all tobacco control policies are essential to further decrease tobacco consumption.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA 30341-3724, USA. wwarren@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Toker
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erguder
authors.forename: Juliette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.forename: Ann Goding
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Nathan R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Nazmi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bilir
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D013660:Taxes; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014421:Turkey; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution