Increasing Price and Reducing Access to Tobacco in New York City

Schroth, Kevin R. J.

doi:10.1177/1073110519857326

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 13 publications

(14 reference statements)

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“…In 2013, New York City began requiring filtered cigars to be sold in packages of at least 20 sticks for a minimum of $10.50 per-package, and it required other cigars priced at $3 or less per-stick to be sold in packages of at least four [18]. After the passage of New York City’s 2013 law, there was a “proliferation of inexpensive 4-packs of cigars” (e.g., four cigars for $.99), causing a reduction in the average price of 4-packs [19]. In 2017, New York City enacted a new law that set the minimum price for a package of cigars at $8 for a single cigar and another $1.75 for each additional cigar per package [19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the passage of New York City’s 2013 law, there was a “proliferation of inexpensive 4-packs of cigars” (e.g., four cigars for $.99), causing a reduction in the average price of 4-packs [19]. In 2017, New York City enacted a new law that set the minimum price for a package of cigars at $8 for a single cigar and another $1.75 for each additional cigar per package [19]. US federal law does not restrict cigar package quantity but does restrict the minimum quantity for cigarettes (20 sticks) (21 CFR 1140.16).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cigar package quantity and smoking behavior

et al. 2019

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Background Several jurisdictions in the US and abroad limit the minimum number of cigars that can be sold per package. Research has not evaluated whether small packages might result in cigar use initiation, or whether adding cigars to packages might result in purchasers smoking more cigars. Methods Using nationally representative US adult data from Waves 1 and 2 of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, we assessed links between cigar package quantity (number of cigars in the package a person usually buys) and (1) price, and (2) cigar and cigarette use over time, for three cigar types: filtered cigars, cigarillos, and large cigars. Results Smaller quantity packages (i.e., packages with fewer cigars) were cheaper per-pack than larger quantity packages but more expensive per-stick for all three cigar types. For filtered cigars, past-year starters tended to buy smaller quantity packages compared to longer-term users (geometric mean = 6.31 vs. 11.75, respectively; b = −.18, 95%CI: −.32, −.04). Also, those who bought smaller quantity packages of filtered cigars tended to smoke fewer cigars over time compared to those who bought larger quantity packages ( b = 1.16, 95%CI: 0.45, 1.87). Neither of these associations was observed for cigarillos or large cigars. We also found little evidence that buying larger quantity packages predicted continuing to use cigars or using cigarettes. Conclusions Although we found consistent associations between package quantity and price, we found few associations between package quantity and changes in cigar smoking behaviors over time, particularly for cigarillos and large cigars. Key limitations include our adult-only analyses and inability to determine the package quantity that cigar users initiated with. Future studies could examine whether package quantity plays a causal role in filtered cigar use initiation or consumption rates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cigar package quantity and smoking behavior

et al. 2019

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“…For example, New York City currently bans the redemption of coupons or other price promotions, has a minimum price law for cigarettes and multiple other tobacco products, and has a specific excise tax that, while modest by some international standards, is among the highest in the USA. 44 Although adult smoking prevalence dropped substantially in New York City over the last two decades, 11.9% of adults still smoked in 2020, and socioeconomic and other disparities remain. 59 New York City is geographically small, and is within easy driving distance of places with substantially lower taxes and no additional pricing policies.…”

Section: The Need For Harmonisation Of Policies Across All Productsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2014, New York City established a $10.50 minimum price for a pack of 20 cigarettes. An audit study documented very high policy compliance for a premium cigarette brand,43 but, similarly, this is unsurprising since the floor price was set 70 cents below the average price pre-policy 44. In 2018, as part of a suite of tobacco control policies, New York City raised the cigarette floor price to $13.00 and established floor prices for six other tobacco products44; the effects of these new and increased floor prices have not yet been formally evaluated.…”

Section: Minimum Pricing Established Through Minimum Price Laws And/o...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Even with strong price policies, retailers and consumers can engage in policy avoidance, especially if lower price markets are nearby. For example, New York City currently bans the redemption of coupons or other price promotions, has a minimum price law for cigarettes and multiple other tobacco products, and has a specific excise tax that, while modest by some international standards, is among the highest in the USA 44. Although adult smoking prevalence dropped substantially in New York City over the last two decades, 11.9% of adults still smoked in 2020, and socioeconomic and other disparities remain 59.…”

Section: Implementation Of the Three-pronged Approach: Challenges And...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Addressing lower-priced cigarette products through three-pronged comprehensive regulation on excise taxes, minimum price policies and restrictions on price promotions

Ribisl¹,

Golden

Huang

et al. 2022

Tob Control

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The prices that smokers pay out-of-pocket for their tobacco products ultimately influence their smoking behaviour. Although cigarette excise taxes are arguably the best and most used policy to increase cigarette prices, taxes are only one component of retail cigarette prices. The persistence of lower-priced products, disproportionately purchased by lower-income smokers, in jurisdictions with high excise taxes is an Achilles heel for tobacco tax policy. When governments raise excise taxes, the tobacco industry responds. The industry reduces tax pass-through to minimise the price increases for lower-priced brands and offers price discounts to retailers and coupons to consumers. In addition, smokers who do not quit after tax increases may downshift brands, purchase in bulk or substitute lower-priced tobacco product types. This may be particularly true for price-sensitive smokers, including those with lower incomes. We propose that raising excise taxes will be more effective in reducing the persistence of lower-priced products and income-based smoking disparities when taxes are designed to raise prices frequently and substantially for all products and are combined with (a) minimum price laws and (b) bans on coupons, discounts and other promotions. In combination, these three complementary policies restrict the tobacco industry’s ability to undermine the impact of higher excise taxes upon consumer prices. Very few jurisdictions have implemented comprehensive three-pronged tobacco price regulation, but doing so would likely address many of the limitations that come with a sole focus on raising excise taxes.

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