title: The impact of cigarette excise tax increases on purchasing behaviors among New York city smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined the relationship between cigarette excise tax increases and tax-avoidant purchasing behaviors among New York City adult smokers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed data from the city's annual Community Health Survey to assess changes in rates of tax avoidance over time (2003-2010) and smokers' responses to the 2008 state cigarette tax increase. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified correlates of buying more cigarettes on the street in response to the increase.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the 2002 tax increase, the percentage of smokers engaged in tax-avoidant behavior decreased with time from 30% in 2003 to 13% in 2007. Following the 2008 tax increase, 21% of smokers reported buying more cigarettes from another person on the street. Low-income, younger, Black, and Hispanic smokers were more likely than respondents with other sociodemographic characteristics to purchase more cigarettes on the street.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To maximize public health impact, cigarette tax increases should be paired with efforts to limit the flow of untaxed cigarettes entering jurisdictions with high cigarette pack prices.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Chronic Disease Prevention and Tobacco Control, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Queens, NY 11101, USA.
authors.forename: Micaela H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Coady
authors.forename: Christina A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacks
authors.forename: Ijeoma G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Mbamalu
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kansagra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013660:Taxes / Q000191:economics*; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics*