CDC COMMUNITY GUIDE: Increasing Tobacco Use Cessation: Increasing the Unit Price of Tobacco Products
CDC
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Interventions to increase the unit price for tobacco products include public policies at the federal, state, or local level that increase the purchase price per unit of sale. The most common policy approach is legislation to increase the excise tax on tobacco products, though legislative actions and regulatory decisions may also be used to levy fees on tobacco products at the point of sale. Other policies that might influence tobacco product prices were not considered in this review.
Results / Accomplishments
The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends interventions that increase the unit price of tobacco products based on strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing tobacco use. Evidence is considered strong based on findings from studies demonstrating that increasing the price of tobacco products:
Reduces the total amount of tobacco consumed
Reduces the prevalence of tobacco use
Increases the number of tobacco users who quit
Reduces initiation of tobacco use among young people
Reduces tobacco-related morbidity and mortality
Public health effects are proportional to the size of the price increase and the scale of implementation. Based on results of the review on which this recommendation is based, an intervention that increases the unit price for tobacco products by 20% would reduce overall consumption of tobacco products by 10.4%, prevalence of adult tobacco use by 3.6%, and initiation of tobacco use by young people by 8.6%. Evidence also indicates these interventions are effective in reducing tobacco-related disparities among income groups and may reduce disparities by race and ethnicity. Economic evidence shows that raising the unit price of tobacco products substantially reduces healthcare costs and in addition can reduce productivity losses.
Reduces the total amount of tobacco consumed
Reduces the prevalence of tobacco use
Increases the number of tobacco users who quit
Reduces initiation of tobacco use among young people
Reduces tobacco-related morbidity and mortality
Public health effects are proportional to the size of the price increase and the scale of implementation. Based on results of the review on which this recommendation is based, an intervention that increases the unit price for tobacco products by 20% would reduce overall consumption of tobacco products by 10.4%, prevalence of adult tobacco use by 3.6%, and initiation of tobacco use by young people by 8.6%. Evidence also indicates these interventions are effective in reducing tobacco-related disparities among income groups and may reduce disparities by race and ethnicity. Economic evidence shows that raising the unit price of tobacco products substantially reduces healthcare costs and in addition can reduce productivity losses.
About this Promising Practice
Primary Contact
The Community Guide
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
1600 Clifton Rd, NE
MS E69
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 498-1827
communityguide@cdc.gov
https://www.thecommunityguide.org/
Topics
Health / Alcohol & Drug Use
Source
Community Guide Branch Epidemiology and Analysis Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults