Tobacco Control

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
[Advanced]

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this link to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Add article to my folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hyland, A
Right arrow Articles by Cummings, K M
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Hyland, A
Right arrow Articles by Cummings, K M
Tobacco Control 2005;14:86-92
© 2005 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd


RESEARCH PAPER

Higher cigarette prices influence cigarette purchase patterns

A Hyland, J E Bauer, Q Li, S M Abrams, C Higbee, L Peppone, K M Cummings

Department of Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA

Correspondence to:
K Michael Cummings PhD MPH
Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Department of Health Behavior, Elm and Carlton Streets, Buffalo, New York 14263, USA; michael.cummings{at}roswellpark.org

Objective: To examine cigarette purchasing patterns of current smokers and to determine the effects of cigarette price on use of cheaper sources, discount/generic cigarettes, and coupons.

Background: Higher cigarette prices result in decreased cigarette consumption, but price sensitive smokers may seek lower priced or tax-free cigarette sources, especially if they are readily available. This price avoidance behaviour costs states excise tax money and dampens the health impact of higher cigarette prices.

Methods: Telephone survey data from 3602 US smokers who were originally in the COMMIT (community intervention trial for smoking cessation) study were analysed to assess cigarette purchase patterns, use of discount/generic cigarettes, and use of coupons.

Results: 59% reported engaging in a high price avoidance strategy, including 34% who regularly purchase from a low or untaxed venue, 28% who smoke a discount/generic cigarette brand, and 18% who report using cigarette coupons more frequently that they did five years ago. The report of engaging in a price avoidance strategy was associated with living within 40 miles of a state or Indian reservation with lower cigarette excise taxes, higher average cigarette consumption, white, non-Hispanic race/ethnicity, and female sex.

Conclusion: Data from this study indicate that most smokers are price sensitive and seek out measures to purchase less expensive cigarettes, which may decrease future cessation efforts.


Keywords: cessation; purchase patterns; taxes




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Am. J. Public HealthHome page
P. Franks, A. F. Jerant, J. P. Leigh, D. Lee, A. Chiem, I. Lewis, and S. Lee
Cigarette Prices, Smoking, and the Poor: Implications of Recent Trends
Am J Public Health, October 1, 2007; 97(10): 1873 - 1877.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Public HealthHome page
D. Shelley, M. J. Cantrell, J. Moon-Howard, D. Q. Ramjohn, and N. VanDevanter
The $5 Man: The Underground Economic Response to a Large Cigarette Tax Increase in New York City
Am J Public Health, August 1, 2007; 97(8): 1483 - 1488.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Tobacco ControlHome page
B. R Loomis, M. C Farrelly, and N. H Mann
The association of retail promotions for cigarettes with the Master Settlement Agreement, tobacco control programmes and cigarette excise taxes
Tob. Control, December 1, 2006; 15(6): 458 - 463.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Tobacco ControlHome page
A Hyland, F L Laux, C Higbee, G Hastings, H Ross, F J Chaloupka, G T Fong, and K M Cummings
Cigarette purchase patterns in four countries and the relationship with cessation: findings from the International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Survey
Tob. Control, June 1, 2006; 15(suppl_3): iii59 - iii64.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER
Terms and conditions relating to subscriptions purchased online  ¦  Website terms and conditions  ¦  Privacy policy
Copyright © 2005 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.