US consumer interest in non-cigarette tobacco products spikes around the 2009 federal tobacco tax increase

Background California Proposition 56 increased cigarette excise tax by $2 per pack with equivalent increases on non-cigarette tobacco products. We estimated the changes in cigarette price, cigarette use, and non-cigarette use following the implementation of Proposition 56 in California in 2017. Methods Seven waves of Tobacco Use Supplements to the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) 2011–2019 data were used to obtain state-level aggregate self-reported outcomes, including cigarette price per pack, current and daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, and current and daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products (hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco). A modified version of a synthetic control method was used to create a “synthetic” California that best resembled pre-policy sociodemographic characteristics and outcome trends in California while correcting time-invariant pre-policy differences. Various sensitivity analyses were also conducted. Results The implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with an increase in self-reported cigarette price per pack in California ($1.844, 95%CI: $0.153, $3.534; p = 0.032). No evidence suggested that Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the prevalence of current or daily cigarette use, cigarette consumption per day, or the prevalence of current or daily use of non-cigarette tobacco products. Conclusion Most of the cigarette tax increase following Proposition 56 in California was passed on to consumers. There is a lack of evidence that the implementation of Proposition 56 was associated with the changes in the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products such as hookah, pipe, cigar, and smokeless tobacco.

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Patterns of non-cigarette tobacco and nicotine use among current cigarette smokers and recent quitters: Findings from the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntab040 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Lin Li ◽

Ron Borland ◽

K Michael Cummings ◽

Shannon Gravely ◽

Anne C K Quah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Smoking Cessation ◽

Cigarette Smoking ◽

Smoking Status ◽

Tobacco Product ◽

Cigarette Tobacco ◽

Cigarette Smokers ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Patterns Of Use ◽

Levels Of Use ◽

Current Cigarette

Abstract Introduction This study explores patterns of use of non-cigarette tobacco and nicotine products among adult cigarette smokers and recent ex-smokers. Along with cigarette smoking status we explore differences as a function of countries with different product regulations, gender and age. Methods Data came from the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Wave 3 Survey conducted between February-June 2020. The analytic sample consisted of 9112 current cigarette smokers (at least monthly) and 1184 recent ex-smokers (quit cigarettes ≤ 2 years) from Australia, Canada, England, and the US. Respondents were asked about their cigarette smoking and current use of the following non-cigarette products: combustible tobacco (cigars, cigarillos, pipe, waterpipe); non-combustible tobacco (smokeless tobacco, and heated tobacco products (HTPs)); and non-tobacco nicotine products (nicotine vaping products (NVPs), nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), and nicotine pouches)). Results Overall, NVPs (13.7%) and NRT (10.9%) were the most reported nicotine products used, followed by cigars (5.3%), cigarillos (4.2%), and HTPs (3.5%). More than 21% current and recent ex-smokers of cigarettes reported using a non-tobacco nicotine product and non-combustible product, with respondents in England reporting the highest levels of use (>26%). Males, younger respondents, and current non-daily cigarette smokers were more likely to use non-cigarette nicotine products. Notably, 11.6% of ex-cigarette smokers were using other combustible tobacco. Conclusion Considerable percentages of current cigarette smokers and ex-smokers use non-cigarette nicotine products, and there are unexpectedly high levels of use of other combustible products by those recent ex-smokers of cigarettes which is concerning and has important implications for definitions of smoking cessation. Implications The tobacco product market has evolved to include new products which add to existing non-cigarette tobacco products creating a much more diverse nicotine market. This brief report provides a snapshot of use of various combustible and non-combustible nicotine containing products among current cigarette smokers and recent ex-smokers in four western countries. Our results indicate that use of non-cigarette tobacco and nicotine products among these cigarette smokers and recent ex-smokers is not low, particularly among males, younger and non-daily cigarette smokers. Use of other combustible tobacco among respondents that recently quit cigarette smoking is concerning and has important implications for definitions of smoking cessation. Increased emphasis on researching non-cigarette nicotine product use is warranted in tobacco control generally and smoking cessation in particular.

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Changes in cigarillo availability following implementation of a local flavoured tobacco sales restriction

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-056229 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056229

Author(s):

Todd Rogers ◽

Doris G Gammon ◽

Ellen M Coats ◽

James M Nonnemaker ◽

Xin Xu

Keyword(s):

Policy Implementation ◽

Rhode Island ◽

Market Share ◽

Scanner Data ◽

Retail Sale ◽

Difference In Difference ◽

Cigarette Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Tobacco Sales ◽

The Impact

IntroductionProvidence, Rhode Island (RI) was among the first US jurisdictions to enact a policy (effective 3 January 2013) restricting the retail sale of non-cigarette tobacco products with a characterising flavour other than the taste or aroma of tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen. We used scanner data to assess the impact of this sales restriction on retail availability of cigarillos, flavoured and otherwise, in Providence and a rest-of-state (ROS) comparison area.MethodsEvery unique cigarillo product—each indicated by a universal product code (UPC)—available for sale in RI from January 2012 to December 2016 was assigned to an exclusive flavour-name category (tobacco; explicit or concept flavour; or menthol/mint) based on characteristics in the scanner dataset and, as necessary, information from online websites. We calculated weekly unique cigarillo UPC counts and market share by flavour category and used difference-in-difference regression to assess prepolicy and postpolicy changes in counts and share in Providence relative to ROS.ResultsThe prepolicy to postpolicy decrease in the number of unique cigarillo products available in Providence was 28.64 (±5.83) UPCs greater than the comparable decrease in ROS (p<0.05). The prepolicy to postpolicy increase in the number of unique concept-named flavoured cigarillo products in Providence was 6.08 (±2.31) UPCs greater than the increase in ROS (p<0.05). The postpolicy market share of concept-named flavoured cigarillos was higher in Providence (27.32%, ±1.77) than ROS (12.67%, ±1.67) (p<0.05).ConclusionsAfter policy implementation, Providence consumers were exposed to fewer cigarillo UPCs but a greater variety and proportion of concept-named flavoured cigarillos in the retail marketplace.

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Implementation of the New York City Policy Restricting Sales of Flavored Non-Cigarette Tobacco Products

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198119853608 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (5) ◽

pp. 782-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elizabeth M. Brown ◽

Todd Rogers ◽

Matthew E. Eggers ◽

Michelle L. Cavazos ◽

Maureen S. O’Brien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Policy Implementation ◽

York City ◽

Tobacco Policy ◽

Compliance Monitoring ◽

Cigarette Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

City Policy ◽

Flavored Tobacco

Flavored tobacco products appeal to youth, and jurisdictions have implemented policy interventions to reduce youth tobacco initiation. This study reviews the process, challenges, and compliance monitoring of a flavored tobacco sales restriction. New York City (NYC) passed a policy restricting the sale of flavored non-cigarette tobacco products in 2009. To describe the policy’s passage, legal defense, implementation, and enforcement, we conducted stakeholder interviews, reviewed legislative and legal records, and analyzed administrative data on retailer inspections and violations. Extensive public and policy maker education efforts preceded this policy. Barriers included opposition to the policy’s passage and a tobacco manufacturer’s lawsuit that sought to halt the law’s implementation and to establish that NYC lacked the authority to restrict the sale of flavored products. The city implemented the flavored tobacco policy as intended and it withstood legal challenges. NYC integrated enforcement into the city’s retailer compliance monitoring infrastructure, and the violation rate is low. Our investigation of NYC’s experience with flavored tobacco policy implementation and enforcement can provide policy makers and health professionals with insights relevant to policy implementation, expand understanding of the potential impact of these kinds of policies, and inform compliance monitoring efforts.

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Changes in cigar sales following implementation of a local policy restricting sales of flavoured non-cigarette tobacco products

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2019-055004 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2019-055004 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Todd Rogers ◽

Ashley Feld ◽

Doris G Gammon ◽

Ellen M Coats ◽

Elizabeth M Brown ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rhode Island ◽

Regression Models ◽

Policy Impact ◽

Local Policy ◽

Cigarette Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Cross Border ◽

Retail Outlets ◽

The City ◽

Specific Impact

IntroductionOn 3 January, 2013, the city of Providence, Rhode Island, began enforcing a restriction on the retail sale of all non-cigarette tobacco products with a characterising flavour other than tobacco, menthol, mint or wintergreen. We assessed the policy impact on cigar sales—which comprise 95% of flavoured non-cigarette tobacco products sold through conventional tobacco retail outlets (eg, convenience stores, supermarkets) in Providence—over time and in comparison to the rest of the state (ROS).MethodsWeekly retail scanner sales data were obtained for January 2012 to December 2016. Cigar sales were categorised into products labelled with explicit-flavour (eg, Cherry) or concept-flavour (eg, Jazz) names. Regression models assessed changes in prepolicy and postpolicy sales in Providence and ROS.ResultsAverage weekly unit sales of flavoured cigars decreased prepolicy to postpolicy by 51% in Providence, while sales increased by 10% in ROS (both p<0.01). The Providence results are due to a 93% reduction in sales of cigars labelled with explicit-flavour names (p<0.01), which did not change significantly in ROS. Sales of cigars labelled with concept-flavour names increased by 74% in Providence and 119% in ROS (both p<0.01). Sales of all cigars—flavoured and otherwise—decreased by 31% in Providence (p<0.01). We detected some evidence of product substitution and cross-border purchasing.ConclusionsThe Providence policy had a city-specific impact on retail sales of flavoured cigars, which was attenuated by an increase in sales of concept flavour-named cigars. Products with concept-flavour names may avoid enforcement agency detection, and their continued sale undermines the intent of the policy.

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Price, Income, and Affordability as the Determinants of Tobacco Consumption: A Practitioner’s Guide to Tobacco Taxation

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa134 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Nigar Nargis ◽

Michal Stoklosa ◽

Ce Shang ◽

Jeffrey Drope

Keyword(s):

Price Elasticity ◽

Tobacco Consumption ◽

High Income ◽

Cigarette Consumption ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Middle Income ◽

Middle Income Countries ◽

Price Increases ◽

Tobacco Tax ◽

Tobacco Taxation

Abstract Introduction Tobacco product prices and consumers’ income are the two major economic determinants of tobacco demand. The affordability of tobacco products is dependent on the price of tobacco products relative to consumer income. Increase in tobacco tax is expected to lead to higher price, lower affordability, and reduced consumption. Price elasticity and affordability elasticity are used in analyzing the effect of tobacco tax increases on tobacco consumption and public health. The availability of both parameters raises the question of which one to apply in policy discussions. Aims and Methods Using global data on cigarette consumption, price, income, and tobacco control measures for 169 countries over 2007–2016, this study estimated the price elasticity and affordability elasticity of cigarette consumption by country income classification using country-specific fixed effects model for panel data. Results The estimates show that the restriction of equal strength of the effects of price and income changes on tobacco consumption maintained in affordability elasticity estimation is valid for low- and middle-income countries, while it is rejected for high-income countries. Conclusions Affordability elasticity may prove to be a useful parameter to explain and predict the sensitivity of consumers to tobacco tax and price policy changes under conditions of robust economic growth, which are more likely to be observed in countries with initial low- or middle-income setting. It can provide a reasonable benchmark for tobacco tax and price increase necessary to effectively reduce affordability and consumption of tobacco, which can form a basis for building systematic tax and price increases into the tobacco tax policy mechanism. Implications Price elasticity measures the sensitivity of consumers to changes in real prices, holding real income constant. Affordability elasticity measures the sensitivity of consumers to price changes adjusted for inflation and income changes. Existing scientific literature on tobacco demand abounds in both price and affordability elasticity estimates, without providing a clear explanation of the theoretical and policy implications of using one parameter over the other. By estimating and comparing price and affordability elasticities for high-income and low-and-middle-income countries separately, this article offers a guide to the practitioners in tobacco taxation for evaluating the effectiveness of tax-induced price increases on tobacco consumption.

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Lifestyle characteristics of parental electronic cigarette and marijuana users: healthy or not?

Journal of Perinatal Medicine ◽

10.1515/jpm-2019-0392 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 48 (1) ◽

pp. 59-66

Author(s):

Dilani Wanasinghe ◽

Shetal Shah ◽

Amruta Bamanikar ◽

David Aboudi ◽

Soumya Mikkilineni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

The Other ◽

Cigarette Use ◽

Cigarette Tobacco ◽

Tobacco Products

AbstractObjectiveTo assess lifestyle characteristics among parental electronic cigarette (e-cigarette), marijuana and tobacco users.MethodsA total of 1214 parents (77% mothers and 23% fathers) were surveyed and categorized into five exposure groups: e-cigarette use only (1%), marijuana use only (3%), tobacco products only (10%), multi-exposed [11% (marijuana, e-cigarette and tobacco)], and non-users [75% (no e-cigarette, tobacco or marijuana)].ResultsSimilar to non-users, the e-cigarette group had no illicit drug use. Further, e-cigarette users were more likely, in adjusted models, to self-identify as non-smokers and exercise compared with tobacco and multi-exposed groups. Although marijuana users also had higher odds of self-identifying as non-smokers compared to tobacco and multi-exposed groups, they were more likely than non-users to drink alcohol.ConclusionE-cigarette and marijuana using parents were less likely to identify as smokers. E-cigarette users had healthier lifestyle characteristics than the other exposed groups. Clinicians should consider specifically screening for parental e-cigarette and marijuana use as assessing for only “smoking” may underrepresent first-and second-hand exposure. Additionally, clinicians should be aware that marijuana using parents are more likely to drink alcohol and should counsel accordingly.

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The elasticity of tobacco demand in Australia

Deakin Papers on International Business Economics ◽

10.21153/dpibe2014vol7no1art319 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Caroline Kartika Joe ◽

Chuanling Wei ◽

Mengtian Li ◽

Qingbo Dai

Keyword(s):

Australian Bureau ◽

Tax Revenue ◽

Government Revenue ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Elasticity Of Demand ◽

Alternate Hypothesis ◽

Cancer Council ◽

Tobacco Tax ◽

Australian Bureau Of Statistics

This paper examines the elasticity of demand of tobacco products in Australia from 2000 to 2011. The hypothesis is that the demand for cigarettes is inelastic. The alternate hypothesis is that the demand for cigarettes is elastic. The hypothesis implies that increasing tobacco tax decreases government tax revenue, while the opposite is true for a decrease in tobacco tax. This paper obtains data mainly from Australian Bureau of Statistics and Cancer Council Victoria. We find an increase in the excise rate and government revenue from tobacco products, therefore implying that the demand of tobacco products in Australia is inelastic. We find further support of this finding by examining factors such as the age and income structure of the population.

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