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L. Joossens



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    MS 06 - Regulation of Tobacco Products (ID 24)

    • Event: WCLC 2015
    • Type: Mini Symposium
    • Track: Prevention and Tobacco Control
    • Presentations: 1
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      MS06.01 - Global Effects of Smoking, of Quitting, and of Taxing Tobacco (ID 1868)

      14:15 - 15:45  |  Author(s): L. Joossens

      • Abstract
      • Presentation

      Abstract:
      Evidence from countries of all income levels shows that price increases on cigarettes are highly effective in reducing demand. Higher prices induce cessation and prevent initiation of tobacco use. Article 6 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, "Price and Tax Measures to Reduce the Demand for Tobacco", recognizes the importance of this policy and calls on governments to implement tax and price policies to contribute to their national health objectives. Guidelines on Price and Tax Measures to reduce the demand for Tobacco, adopted by the 180 parties to the FCTC at the Sixth Conference of the Parties in October 2014, stipulate: “Any policy to increase tobacco taxes that effectively increases real prices reduces tobacco use. According to the studies referenced in the WHO technical manual on tobacco tax administration and IARC Handbooks of Cancer Prevention: Tobacco Control. Volume 14, the relationship between real prices and tobacco consumption is generally inelastic, meaning that the decline in consumption is less than proportional to the increase in real price. Most estimates of the price elasticity of demand lie between -0.2 and -0.8. In all settings, studies have shown that the price elasticity of demand is higher (in absolute terms) in the long term, meaning that consumption will fall even more in the long term. People with lower socioeconomic status are more responsive to tax and price changes because such changes have a greater impact on their disposable income. As regards the effect of higher taxes and prices on tobacco use by young people, it is estimated that young people are two to three times more responsive to tax and price changes than older people. Therefore, tobacco tax increases are likely to have a significant effect on reducing tobacco consumption, prevalence and initiation among young people, as well as on reducing the chances of young people moving from experimentation to addiction.”[1] [1] Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, Sixth session, Guidelines for implementation of Article 6 of the WHO FCTC (Price and tax measures to reduce the demand for tobacco), Moscow, Russian Federation,13–18 October 2014.

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