Effect of Increased Social Unacceptability of Cigarette Smoking on Reduction in Cigarette Consumption

Abstract

Taxes on cigarettes have long been used to help reduce cigarette consumption. Social factors also affect cigarette consumption, but this impact has not been quantified. We computed a social unacceptability index based on individuals’ responses to questions regarding locations where smoking should be allowed. A regression analysis showed that the social unacceptability index and price had similar elasticities and that their effects were independent of each other. If, through an active tobacco control campaign, the average individual’s views on the social unacceptability of smoking changed to more closely resemble the views of California residents, there would be a 15% drop in cigarette consumption, equivalent to a $1.17 increase in the excise tax on cigarettes.

Population Support Before and After the Implementation of Smoke-Free Laws in the United States: Trends From 1992–2007

“…Therefore, a likely explanation is that states that already have higher support are more likely to implement smoke-free laws. 19 Also, increases in support for smoke-free laws and the implementation of smoke-free laws may both be the reflection of a process of denormalization of smoking 3,5,6,20 that may be more present in some states than in others. It seems reasonable to think that there is not a single explanation for the larger increase in support in states that implemented a smoke-free law than in states that did not, but that a combination of the above described explanations is true.…”

“…3,5,6 Monitoring population support for smoke-free laws is important to inform policy development, media advocacy and enforcement activities. 3 Another important reason for monitoring population support for smoke-free laws is the tobacco industry's claims that smoke-free laws are not supported by the public, that getting the public to comply with the laws will be difficult, and that there will be negative economic consequences of smoke-free laws for the hospitality industry.…”

“…3,8 Possible reasons for this increasing trend are a decreasing prevalence of smoking and a decreasing social acceptability of smoking. 5,9 Certain events can potentially trigger sudden increases in support for smoke-free laws. For example, a review of Australian studies showed that population support for smoke-free laws increased significantly after extensive media attention about a court case on disease due to second-hand smoke.…”

Smoking and the emergence of a stigmatized social status

“…The increase in the social unacceptability of smoking has had a dramatic impact on tobacco use in the US (Alamar and Glantz 2006) especially, in states and cities that have enacted tough tobacco control policies (Gilpin, Lee and Pierce 2004;Frieden et al 2005). However, how policies (e.g., smoke free air laws) and social factors (e.g., social norms) drive the social unacceptability of tobacco use are not well understood.…”

Who conceals their smoking status from their health care provider?

“…The decline in the social acceptability of tobacco use in the United States over the past half-century is associated with a decrease in tobacco use ( Alamar & Glantz, 2006 ). A concern is that smokers who perceive that their smoking is unacceptable…”