PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Gholamreza Heydari
AU  - Saeid Fallah Tafti
AU  - Firouzeh Telischi
AU  - Luk Joossens
AU  - Mostafa Hosseini
AU  - Mohammadreza Masjedi
AU  - Mostafa Ghafari
TI  - Prevalence of smuggled and foreign cigarette use in Tehran, 2009
AID  - 10.1136/tc.2009.033191
DP  - 2010 Oct 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - 380--382
VI  - 19
IP  - 5
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/19/5/380.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/19/5/380.full
SO  - Tob Control2010 Oct 01; 19
AB  - Background Iran is one of two main target markets for tobacco smuggling in the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region. The Iranian government has a local tobacco monopoly but there is high demand for international brands. Informal reports show about 20% of cigarette consumption is smuggled brands. This pack survey study is the first in Iran to gather validated information on use of smuggled cigarettes.Methods A randomized cross-sectional household survey in Tehran in 2008–2009 of 1540 smokers aged 16–90 (83% men) was performed, including interviewer checking of cigarette packs.Results In all, 20.9% of cigarettes and 6.7% of domestic branded cigarettes were smuggled. A total of 60.1% of smokers preferred foreign cigarettes. There was no significant difference between consumption of illegal cigarettes by sex. (Fisher exact test p=0.61) Use of smuggled cigarettes was higher among younger smokers (p=0.01)Conclusions Use of illegal cigarettes is high. Tobacco control laws outlawing their sale are not being enforced.