The Irish tobacco industry position on price increases on tobacco products

Howell, Fenton

doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050146

Cited by 19 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In a relatively competitive environment, as was the case at the time, this corresponds to theoretical predictions. More recent studies-covering the United States, South Africa, Jamaica, and Ireland-find that tax increases are over-shifted to consumers (Barnett, Keeler, & Hu, 1995;Hanson & Sullivan, 2008;Howell, 2012;Keeler, Hu, Barnett, Manning, & Sung, 1996;Sullivan, 2010;van Walbeek, 2010). This is consistent with the continuing trend of industry consolidation and the increase in industry profitability despite declining sales (Gilmore et al, 2010).…”

Section: Industry Efforts To Influence Tax Policy and Industry Pricinsupporting

confidence: 53%

“…This is consistent with the continuing trend of industry consolidation and the increase in industry profitability despite declining sales (Gilmore et al, 2010). Moreover, the research from Ireland shows that, while over-shifting taxes, the tobacco industry has simultaneously argued that tax increases will increase smuggling, thus undermining its own rhetoric (Howell, 2012).…”

Section: Industry Efforts To Influence Tax Policy and Industry Pricinmentioning

confidence: 52%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Price and Tax Measures and Illicit Trade in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: What We Know and What Research Is Required

Walbeek

Blecher

Gilmore

et al. 2012

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

introduction: Article 6 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control commits Parties to use tax and price policies to reduce tobacco use, whereas Article 15 commits Parties to implement measures to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products. This paper identifies research gaps/needs, especially in low-and middle-income countries, which, if adequately addressed, would help in implementing Articles 6 and 15.Methods: Based on a recent comprehensive review on the impact of tax and price on tobacco consumption and a summary of reviews and narratives about the illicit tobacco market, research gaps are identified.Results: Countries have highly diverse research needs, depending on the stage of the tobacco epidemic, previous research and data availability, and making a ranking of research needs infeasible. Broad issues for further research are the following: (1) monitoring tobacco consumption, prices, and taxes, (2) assessing the effectiveness of the tax structure in generating revenue and reducing tobacco use, (3) strengthening the tax administration system in order to reduce tax evasion and tax avoidance, (4) improving our understanding of the political economy of tobacco tax policy, and (5) employing a multidisciplinary approach to assessing the magnitude of illicit tobacco trade. Conclusions:At a technical level, the case for increasing excise taxes to improve public health and increase government revenue is easily made, but the political and policy environment is often not supportive. In order to effectively impact policy, the required approach would typically make use of rigorous economic techniques, and be cognizant of the political economy of raising excise taxes. inTRoduCTionThe World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) sets out a number of measures that aim to reduce the demand for (Articles 6-14) and supply of tobacco (Articles 15-17). The focus of this paper is on Article 6, and to a lesser extent on Article 15. Article 6 (Box 1) commits the Parties to implement tax policies (and where appropriate, price policies) that aim to reduce tobacco consumption, while Article 15 (Box 2) aims to eliminate the illicit trade in tobacco products.As a framework treaty, the FCTC does not provide specific detail on best practices and how Parties should implement the treaty but rather leaves it to a series of Protocols and Guidelines which are negotiated at a later stage. Guidelines provide recommendations on the implementation and/or interpretation of treaty obligations while protocols are legally binding and introduce new obligations. A Protocol on the illicit trade in tobacco products has been negotiated and a working group to develop Guidelines for Article 6 has been established. Both the Protocol and the Guidelines are on the agenda for adoption at the Conference of the Parties in November 2012.Article 6 encourages the Parties to increase the tax on cigarettes, which would increase their retail prices, make cigarettes less affordable and thus discourage consumption. Since ...

show abstract

Section: Industry Efforts To Influence Tax Policy and Industry Pricinsupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Industry Efforts To Influence Tax Policy and Industry Pricinmentioning

confidence: 52%

Price and Tax Measures and Illicit Trade in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: What We Know and What Research Is Required

Walbeek

Blecher

Gilmore

et al. 2012

Nicotine & Tobacco Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, TTCs consistently and misleadingly argue that tobacco tax and price rises will increase the illicit tobacco trade,27 even in jurisdictions where much of the price increases are directly attributable to industry price increases rather than tax increases 30 31…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tobacco industry manipulation of data on and press coverage of the illicit tobacco trade in the UK

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundIn the UK, transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) have been arguing that levels of illicit trade are high and increasing and will rise further if standardised packaging is implemented. This paper examines trends in and accuracy of media reporting of, and industry data on, illicit tobacco in the UK.MethodsQuantification of the volume, nature and quality of press articles citing industry data on illicit tobacco in UK newspapers from March 2008 to March 2013. Examination of published TTC data on illicit, including a comparison with independent data and of TTC reporting of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs data on illicit.ResultsMedia stories citing industry data on illicit tobacco began in June 2011, 2 months after the Tobacco Control Plan for England, which heralded standardised packaging, was published. The majority of data cited are based on industry Empty Pack Surveys for which no methodology is available. For almost all parts of the country where repeat data were cited in press stories, they indicated an increase, often substantial, in non-domestic/illicit cigarettes that is not supported by independent data. Similarly, national data from two published industry sources show a sudden large increase in non-domestic product between 2011 and 2012. Yet the methodology of one report changes over this period and the other provides no published methodology. In contrast, independent data show steady declines in non-domestic and illicit cigarette penetration from 2006 to 2012 and either a continued decline or small increase to 2013.ConclusionsIndustry claims that use of Non-UK Duty Paid/illicit cigarettes in the UK is sharply increasing are inconsistent with historical trends and recent independent data. TTCs are exaggerating the threat of illicit tobacco by commissioning surveys whose methodology and validity remain uncertain, planting misleading stories and misquoting government data. Industry data on levels of illicit should be treated with extreme caution.

show abstract

“…Recent disinvestment in tobacco control, as seen in the Netherlands where government reversed their decision to reimburse a Stop Smoking programme through health insurance, weakened the smoke-free laws, cancelled mass media campaigns and withdrew funding, 22 raises fear that the deepening economic crisis and public sector cuts might derail tobacco control efforts in Ireland. However, planned implementation of pictorial health warnings on tobacco packages in 2013, the launch of a new multifaceted media campaigndthe QUIT campaigndand further tax increases in the recent budget despite warnings from the tobacco industry 23 and a report by the Revenue Commission 24 suggest that the Irish Government is still committed to continued progress in tobacco control.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

The effect of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in Ireland using theIrelandSSsimulation model

et al. 2012

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

The Irish tobacco industry position on price increases on tobacco products

Cited by 19 publications

References 3 publications

Price and Tax Measures and Illicit Trade in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: What We Know and What Research Is Required

Price and Tax Measures and Illicit Trade in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: What We Know and What Research Is Required

Tobacco industry manipulation of data on and press coverage of the illicit tobacco trade in the UK

The effect of tobacco control policies on smoking prevalence and smoking-attributable deaths in Ireland using theIrelandSSsimulation model

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About