scholarly journals Tobacco taxation, illegal cigarette supply and geography: findings from the ITC Uruguay Surveys

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. s53-s60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dardo Curti ◽  
Ce Shang ◽  
Frank J Chaloupka ◽  
Geoffrey T Fong
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Control Evaluation ◽  
Illegal Cigarettes ◽  
Tax Changes ◽  
Tobacco Taxation

BackgroundIn Uruguay, real tobacco taxes increased significantly during 2005–2010 and 2014–2017 and decreased during 2010–2014. The effects of these tax changes on illegal and legal cigarette usage differed significantly when we compared cities in the middle and south of the country with cities on the border.ObjectiveThis paper analyses whether supply side factors such as geographical location, distribution networks and the effectiveness of tobacco control play a significant role in sales and use of illegal cigarettes when tobacco taxes change, particularly given the price gap between legal and lower-priced illegal cigarettes.MethodsUsing the International Tobacco Control Evaluation Project Uruguay Survey data (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014), choices among illegal, legal and roll-your-own cigarettes are estimated as a function of smokers’ geographical location, an indicator of illegal cigarette supply, and controlling for socioeconomic and demographic variables. Smoking behaviours in Montevideo, Durazno and Maldonado were compared with those in two border cities, Salto and Rivera, where illegal cigarette prevalence may differ.FindingsAn increase in taxes on manufactured legal and roll-your-own cigarettes increased the odds that smokers in cities near the borders and women switched down to illegal cigarettes. City geographical location, controls effectiveness and distribution networks may play a significant role in accessibility of illegal cigarettes. To improve the effectiveness of increased taxes and prices in reducing smoking, policy-makers may consider specific policies intended to reduce access to illegal cigarettes, such as ratification and effective implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products of WHO.

scholarly journals Empirical analysis on the illicit trade of cigarettes in Vietnam

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (Suppl 4) ◽  
pp. s281-s286
Author(s):  
Hien Thi Thu Nguyen ◽  
Long Thanh Giang ◽  
Toan Ngoc Pham
Keyword(s):  
Steering Committee ◽  
Easy Access ◽  
Excise Tax ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Consumption Data ◽  
The Government ◽  
Tax Changes ◽  
Smoking And Health ◽  
Negative Volume

BackgroundThis paper examined how a higher tax on tobacco would affect illicit trade in Vietnam.Methodology and dataThis paper used the gap method to estimate the gap between cigarette domestically tax-paid sales and domestic consumption. Data were from the tax-paid sales by the Vietnam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH), the Vietnam Tobacco Association, the General Tax Department, as well as two rounds of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2010 and 2015.Key resultsThe results indicated that Vietnam had a negative volume of illicit trade, either a result of under-reporting of tobacco use or due to net smuggling of tax-paid cigarettes out of the country. Furthermore, the trend showed an increased negative volume over time, which indicated that increases in tobacco taxes in the interleading years did not result in an increase in illicit trade in tobaccos in Vietnam.ConclusionsVietnam’s low prices on domestic cigarettes created favourable conditions for cigarette smugglers and provided easy access to illicit cigarettes for the Vietnamese people, but the absence of a relationship between tax changes and smuggling suggested that potential increases in the excise tax should not be discouraged by the threat of an increase in illicit trade. The government should increase taxes on cigarettes to raise domestic cigarette prices and take strong policy measures to create a more transparent social environment, therefore effectively reducing the prevalence of illicit cigarettes in Vietnam.

scholarly journals Analysing the trend of illicit tobacco in the Philippines from 1998 to 2018

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056253
Author(s):  
Monica Paula Lavares ◽  
Hana Ross ◽  
Ariza Francisco ◽  
Nadia Doytch
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Cigarette Consumption ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Philippine Government ◽  
Illicit Tobacco Trade ◽  
Tax Changes ◽  
Tobacco Taxation

Tobacco taxation is the most effective measure to reduce cigarette consumption and consequently improve public health outcomes. It is also an important source of government revenue. The presence of an illicit tobacco market diminishes the public health and fiscal gains of cigarette levies by making cheaper non-taxed cigarettes available. To date, the research on the extent of illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines, despite its potential to inform policies for controlling the supply of illicit cigarettes, has been limited. This study provides an estimate of the size of the illicit tobacco market in the Philippines from 1998 to 2018. It employs gap analysis comparing an estimate of the survey-based adult cigarette consumption with legally sold cigarettes in the Philippines. The illicit trade estimates are contrasted with the evolution of tax changes. The results show that the illicit cigarette market share dropped by 42% from 2003 to 2008 and by an additional 79% from 2008 to 2013. In spite of the large tax increases by the Philippine government through the Sin Tax Law starting from 2013 until 2018, the illicit share in 2018 remains similar to its 1998 level of 16% of the total market. Hence, our study finds no evidence of a positive relationship between tobacco taxes and size of illicit cigarette market in the Philippines.

scholarly journals Analysis of the illicit tobacco market in Georgia in response to fiscal and non-fiscal tobacco control measures

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-056404
Author(s):  
Megan Little ◽  
Hana Ross ◽  
George Bakhturidze ◽  
Iago Kachkachishvili
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Cigarette Consumption ◽  
Control Law ◽  
Excise Tax ◽  
Cigarette Taxes ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Cigarette Pack

BackgroundGeorgian illicit cigarette consumption was 1.5% in 2017. In 2018, a new tobacco control law took effect followed by a substantial cigarette excise tax increase in 2019. Research shows these policies reduce tobacco consumption, but the tobacco industry argues they increase illicit trade. There is limited evidence on this, particularly from developing countries.MethodsA panel household survey in Georgia obtained data over three waves: 2017 baseline, 2018 after the tobacco control law took effect and 2019 after taxes increased. A sample of 1578 smokers (and quitters in later waves) from five regions reported their tobacco use and were asked to present a cigarette pack in their possession. These were examined for tax stamps and health warnings to establish legality.FindingsThere was no evidence of an increase in illicit cigarette consumption in Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe or Gori in any wave. In Zugdidi, near the Russian-occupied Abkhazia, illicit cigarette consumption was increasing even prior to the tax increase, reaching 30.9% by wave 3. A country-wide shift occurred from manufactured cigarettes to roll-your-own tobacco (whose tax remained unchanged) between waves 2 and 3.ConclusionNo evidence of a country-wide increase in illicit cigarette trade was found after non-fiscal tobacco measures took effect and cigarette taxes increased. Relatively high illicit cigarette consumption in Zugdidi highlights the role of disputed territories and border administration in illicit cigarette supply. Substitution towards roll-your-own tobacco after manufactured cigarette taxes increased demonstrates the importance of equalising taxes on tobacco products to maximise public health benefits.

scholarly journals Configurations of Aromatic Networks for Power Distribution System

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4317
Author(s):  
K. Prakash ◽  
F. R. Islam ◽  
K. A. Mamun ◽  
H. R. Pota
Keyword(s):  
Power Distribution ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Smart Grids ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Distribution Network ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Distribution Networks ◽  
Self Healing ◽  
Power Distribution System ◽  
Improve Energy Efficiency

A distribution network is one of the main parts of a power system that distributes power to customers. While there are various types of power distribution networks, a recently introduced novel structure of an aromatic network could begin a new era in the distribution levels of power systems and designs of microgrids or smart grids. In order to minimize blackout periods during natural disasters and provide sustainable energy, improve energy efficiency and maintain stability of a distribution network, it is essential to configure/reconfigure the network topology based on its geographical location and power demand, and also important to realize its self-healing function. In this paper, a strategy for reconfiguring aromatic networks based on structures of natural aromatic molecules is explained. Various network structures are designed, and simulations have been conducted to justify the performance of each configuration. It is found that an aromatic network does not need to be fixed in a specific configuration (i.e., a DDT structure), which provides flexibility in designing networks and demonstrates that the successful use of such structures will be a perfect solution for both distribution networks and microgrid systems in providing sustainable energy to the end users.

scholarly journals Turning a threat into an opportunity: British American Tobacco’s weakening of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products

2021 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-055837
Author(s):  
Benoît Gomis ◽  
Allen William Andrew Gallagher ◽  
Andy Rowell ◽  
Anna B Gilmore
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Products ◽  
Implementation Phase ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Country Level ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Philip Morris ◽  
National Implementation ◽  
Legal Costs ◽  
Illicit Tobacco Trade ◽  
Final Text

BackgroundPrevious research has outlined transnational tobacco company (TTC) efforts to undermine implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products (Protocol) and evidence of ongoing TTC complicity in the illicit tobacco trade (ITT). However, the industry’s views on the Protocol and role in its development are not well understood.MethodsSystematic searching and analysis of leaked documents—approximately 15 000 from British American Tobacco (BAT) and 35 from Philip Morris International, triangulated via searches of online resources and interviews with five stakeholders across academia, international organisations, governments, civil society and the private sector.FindingsEvidence indicates that after privately viewing the Protocol as a significant threat (2003), BAT worked to influence its content, while publicly signalling support for it (2007–2012), and was largely satisfied with the final text. BAT successfully pushed for a non-prescriptive text which enabled further country-level TTC influence during the Protocol’s implementation phase. The final text also reflected other BAT policy preferences, including preventing outright bans on duty-free sales and intermingling, and making it difficult to sanction and hold tobacco companies accountable for ongoing involvement in the ITT. TTC representatives were present during early Protocol negotiations, despite rules against this, and BAT obtained draft texts before they were public and paid at least one delegate to support its position.ConclusionsBAT’s primary interest in shaping the Protocol was to minimise its financial and legal costs for BAT while maximising potential costs to small competitors. These findings raise concern about the Protocol’s ability to control the ITT, particularly given TTCs’ intention to influence ongoing national implementation. An effective Protocol is vital to controlling both the ITT and ongoing tobacco industry involvement in it and, in turn, governments’ ability to increase tobacco taxes and thereby save lives.

scholarly journals Tobacco control and Healthy China 2030

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 409-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Goodchild ◽  
Rong Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Smoking Rate ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The Real ◽  
The Third ◽  
Full Implementation ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Real Price ◽  
Business As Usual

BackgroundThe Healthy China 2030 strategy sets ambitious targets for China’s policy-makers, including a decrease in the smoking rate from 27.7% in 2015 to 20% by 2030. China has made progress on tobacco control in recent years, but many key measures remain underused. This study explores the potential for full implementation of these measures to achieve the targeted reduction in smoking by 2030.MethodsFirst, a ‘business as usual’ scenario for China’s cigarette market was developed based only on underlying economic parameters. Second, non-price tobacco control measures were then added assuming they are fully implemented by 2030. Third, excise per pack was raised to a level that would increase the real price of cigarettes by 50% in 2030.FindingsUnder the business as usual scenario, the rate of smoking falls to around 26.6% in 2030. When non-price measures are included, the rate of smoking falls to 22.0% (20.9%~23.1%). Thus, non-price measures alone are unlikely to achieve the Healthy China target. Under the third scenario, excise per pack was roughly doubled in 2030 in order to increase real cigarette prices by 50%. The rate of smoking then falls to 19.7% (18.2%~21.3%), reflecting 78 million (59~97 million) fewer smokers compared with 2016. In addition, real excise revenue from cigarettes increases by 21% (−3%~47%) compared with 2016.ConclusionSignificantly higher tobacco taxes will be needed to achieve Healthy China 2030 target for reduced smoking even after the implementation of other tobacco control measures.

Impact of nations meeting the MPOWER targets between 2014 and 2016: an update

2019 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2018-054837 ◽  
Author(s):  
David T Levy ◽  
Yameng Li ◽  
Zhe Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Health Warnings ◽  
Control Policies ◽  
The Public ◽  
Policy Effect ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Tobacco Control Policies ◽  
Free Air

ObjectiveSince the WHO released the Monitoring tobacco use and tobacco control policies; Protecting from the dangers of tobacco smoke; Offering help to quit tobacco; Warning the public about the dangers; Enforcing bans on advertising, promotion and sponsorship; and Raising tobacco taxes (MPOWER) policy package to assist nations with implementing the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), 88 countries have adopted at least one MPOWER policy at the highest level as of 2014. Building on previous evaluations, we estimated the reduction in smoking-attributable deaths (SADs) from all policies newly adopted at the highest level between 2014 and 2016.MethodsFor each nation that implemented highest level policies, the difference in policy effect sizes from previously validated SimSmoke models for the policies in effect in 2014 and 2016 were multiplied by the number of smokers in that nation to derive the reduction in the number of smokers. Based on research that half of all smokers die from smoking, we derived SADs averted.FindingsIn total, 43 nations adopted at least one highest-level MPOWER policy between 2014 and 2016, resulting in 14.6 million fewer SADs. The largest number of SADs averted were due to stronger health warnings (13.3 million), followed by raising taxes (0.6 million), increased marketing bans (0.4 million), smoke-free air laws (0.3 million) and cessation interventions (2500).ConclusionThese findings demonstrate the continuing public health impact of tobacco control policies adopted globally since the FCTC, and highlight the importance of more countries adopting MPOWER policies at the highest level to reduce the global burden of tobacco use.

Government Interventions on Tobacco Control in India: A Critical Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanchita Mukherjee ◽  
U. S. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Tobacco Use ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Tobacco Industry ◽  
Government Interventions ◽  
Tobacco Control Policies ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tobacco Taxation

Tobacco use is a serious concern in India since it is one of the largest producers and consumers of tobacco in the world. With growing evidence of health hazards caused by tobacco, Government of India had enacted various tobacco control legislations. This article provides a critical review of such government interventions. It traces tobacco practices and production trends in India, and proceeds further to provide a detailed account of the history of such interventions to understand the effectiveness of such policies, and stresses on the role of tobacco companies to weaken tobacco control policies in India. This article concludes that though tobacco control has taken a long leap forward with the introduction of various legislative steps to prohibit tobacco use across the country, review of these policies shows their inadequacy not only in enforcement but also in issues related to (a) the interference of the tobacco industry, (b) issues with tobacco taxation and (c) the failure of government to rehabilitate people involved with cultivation, production and distribution of tobacco products.

scholarly journals Organizational and Financial Analysis of Polish Tobacco Control Program in 2000–2018

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2532
Author(s):  
Łukasz Balwicki ◽  
Anna Tyrańska-Fobke ◽  
Małgorzata Balwicka-Szczyrba ◽  
Marlena Robakowska ◽  
Michal Stoklosa
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Health Technology ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Control Programs ◽  
Tobacco Control Program ◽  
Tobacco Taxes

In accordance with the provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), each country shall promote and strengthen public awareness of tobacco control issues (Article 12). Many parties to the FCTC have adopted national tobacco control programs to organize their tobacco control activities. The aim of our study was to analyze the organization and funding of the Polish Tobacco Control Program in years 2000–2018. Document analysis of The Program and reports from its implementation were performed in accordance to the Agency for Health Technology Assessment in Poland (AHTAPol) recommendations and the WHO FCTC guidelines for Article 12 implementation. Spending was also analyzed. The study showed both inadequate planning of and funding for Polish Tobacco Control Program. The Program was developed without use of best practices detailed in the WHO FCTC guidelines as well as in national guidelines prepared by AHTAPol. The experience of Poland shows that although earmarking tobacco taxes has existed in the law, it has been largely ineffective due to the poor Tobacco Control Program design and insufficient funding resulting from a poor execution of the earmarking law. This may be a warning to other countries to strive to create law, compliance with which can be verified and controlled.

Impact of three annual tobacco tax rises on tobacco sales in remote Australian Aboriginal community stores

2020 ◽  
pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-055865
Author(s):  
David P Thomas ◽  
Emma McMahon ◽  
Zhiqiang Wang ◽  
Michelle M Scollo ◽  
Sarah J Durkin
Keyword(s):  
Interrupted Time Series ◽  
Tobacco Consumption ◽  
Interrupted Time Series Analysis ◽  
Aboriginal Communities ◽  
Tobacco Taxes ◽  
Tobacco Sales ◽  
Tobacco Tax ◽  
Australian Aboriginal Community ◽  
Tobacco Taxation ◽  
First Time

BackgroundThere is strong evidence from many settings that tobacco tax rises which increase prices reduce tobacco consumption, but only limited evidence from Indigenous settings.MethodsWe analysed 3 years (2016–2018) of weekly sales data from 32 stores in remote Aboriginal communities. We used interrupted time series analysis to estimate the immediate impact of the price rice following annual 12.5% tobacco tax rises on sales on (A) stick equivalents of tobacco and (B) fruit and vegetables (kg) per $A1000 of grocery sales, and on the trend in sales between price rises.ResultsWe detected 5.8% and 8.2% immediate declines in tobacco sales following the price rises associated with annual 12.5% tax rises in 2016 and 2018, and a non-significant decline (1.6%) following the 2017 tax rise. Decreased sales were mainly driven by declines in mainstream and premium factory-made cigarettes. Fruit and vegetable sales did not change at the time of tobacco price rises.ConclusionFor the first time, we demonstrated evidence of price-sensitivity and the immediate impact of price rises from tobacco tax rises on tobacco sales in remote Aboriginal communities. We acknowledge that Australia already has very high tobacco taxation and prices, but recommend further increases to the taxation of roll-your-own (RYO) tobacco to prevent smokers and industry using cheaper RYO cigarettes to undermine this impact of high tobacco taxes and prices.

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