RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Cigarette price level and variation in five Southeast Asian countries
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP e137
OP e141
DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051184
VO 24
IS e2
A1 Alex C Liber
A1 Hana Ross
A1 Sophapan Ratanachena
A1 E Ulysses Dorotheo
A1 Kin Foong
YR 2015
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/24/e2/e137.abstract
AB Objectives To monitor and analyse impacts of the interaction between tobacco excise tax policy and industry price strategy, on the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in five Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Vietnam).Methods Prices of cigarette sold by sticks and packs were collected through an in-person survey of retailers during 2011. Mean cigarette prices and price variation were calculated in each study country for single cigarettes, whole packs and brand groups.Results Price variation of whole packs was greater in countries with ad-valorem excise tax structures (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam) than in countries with multitiered specific excise taxes (Indonesia and the Philippines). The price variation for single sticks appeared to be driven by local currency denomination. Cigarettes sold individually cost more per stick than cigarettes sold in whole packs in every brand group except for Indonesia's domestic brands.Conclusions Tobacco industry strategy and excise tax structure drove the price level and variation of cigarettes sold in packs, while currency denominations influence the selling price of single sticks. To maximise the effectiveness of tobacco tax policies, countries should adopt specific excise tax structures to decrease cigarette price variation, which would minimise opportunities for smokers to ‘trade down’ to a cheaper brand to avoid a tax-driven price increase.