Exploring Impacts of Taxes and Hospitality Bans on Cigarette Prices and Smoking Prevalence Using a Large Dataset of Cigarette Prices at Stores 2001-2011, USA.
In the USA, little is known about local variation in retail cigarette prices; price variation explained by taxes, bans, and area-level socio-demographics, and whether taxes and hospitality bans have synergistic effects on smoking prevalence. Cigarette prices 2001-2011 from chain supermarkets and drug stores (n= 2973) were linked to state taxes (n= 41), state and county bar/restaurant smoking bans, and census block group socio-demographics. Hierarchical models explored effects of taxes and bans on retail cigarette prices as well as county smoking prevalence (daily, non-daily). There was wide variation in store-level cigarette prices in part due to differences in state excise taxes. Excise taxes were only partially passed onto consumers (after adjustment, $1 tax associated with $0.90 increase in price,p< 0.0001) and the pass-through was slightly higher in areas that had bans but did not differ by area-level socio-demographics. Bans were associated with a slight increase in cigarette price (after adjustment, $0.09 per-pack,p< 0.0001). Taxes and bans were associated with reduction in smoking prevalence and taxes had a stronger association when combined with bans, suggesting a synergistic effect. Given wide variation in store-level prices, and uneven state/county implementation of taxes and bans, more federal policies should be considered.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lanceballester@gmail.com.
Lance S
LS
Ballester
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. aha27@drexel.edu.
Amy H
AH
Auchincloss
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lucy.f.robinson@drexel.edu.
Lucy F
LF
Robinson
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. stephanie.lynn.mayne@drexel.edu.
Stephanie L
SL
Mayne
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015995:Prevalence; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy / Q000191:economics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013660:Taxes; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000191:economics*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
environment; places; secondhand smoke; smoking; smoking cessation policies; tobacco control; tobacco price