Independent and Interactive Effects of Smoking Bans and Tobacco Taxes on a Cohort of US Young Adults

Abstract

Objectives Most tobacco policy studies neither examine the impact of smoking bans and taxes on individual behavior over time nor consider their interactive effects, and often overlook city-level contexts. We examine the mutual effects of these policies on smoking among a longitudinal cohort of young adults. Methods Combining a repository of U.S. tobacco policies with the nationally-representative geocoded National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 from ages 19–31 and Census data, we use multilevel logistic regression to examine the impact of tobacco policies on any current and daily pack smoking. Results For current smoking, we find significant effects for comprehensive smoking bans, but not excise taxes. We also find an interaction effect, with bans being most effective in locales with no/low taxes. For daily pack smoking, we find significant effects for taxes, but limited support for bans. Conclusions Social smoking among young adults is primarily inhibited by smoking bans, but excise taxes only deter such smoking in the absence of a ban. Heavy smokers are primarily deterred by taxes. While both policies impact young adult smoking behaviors, their dual presence does not intensify each policy’s efficacy.

Longitudinal Associations of Local Cigarette Prices and Smoking Bans with Smoking Behavior in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

“…53 In that study, taxes were negatively associated with heavy smoking but not current smoking, while we found negative associations between cigarette prices and both outcomes, although the association with heavy smoking was stronger. In the NLSY, smoking bans were negatively associated with current smoking (but not heavy smoking) while our study found no impact of bans on within-person change in smoking outcomes.…”

“…Using the previously described young adult sample, Vuolo et al (2016) found that cigarette excise taxes were negatively associated with current smoking only in cities without bar/restaurant smoking bans. 53 In our older adults sample we found no interaction for any outcome. Our results suggest that price is an important determinant of smoking behavior in this population, but the presence or absence of a smoking ban does not influence this association.…”

A Prospective Cohort Study of Cigarette Prices and Smoking Cessation in Older Smokers

“…In our study, the association between cigarette prices and smoking cessation was somewhat stronger when smoke-free air laws were also present, suggesting possible synergy between these two tobacco control measures. To date, only one study has investigated whether there may be synergy between these tobacco control measures (21). Vuolo and colleagues (21) found some evidence of synergy between excise taxes and smoke-free air laws among adults aged 19 to 31 years old, but only in light (less than 1 pack per day) smokers.…”

“…To date, only one study has investigated whether there may be synergy between these tobacco control measures (21). Vuolo and colleagues (21) found some evidence of synergy between excise taxes and smoke-free air laws among adults aged 19 to 31 years old, but only in light (less than 1 pack per day) smokers. Given the age difference and the focus of that study on excise taxes rather than total price, it is difficult to compare these findings with ours.…”

Impact of cigarette taxes on smoking prevalence from 2001-2015: A report using the Behavioral and Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS)

“…There is conflicting evidence regarding the impact of pricing and/or taxes on smoking prevalence in the United States; some studies have suggested that increasing excise taxes are related to lower smoking prevalence, while others have suggested that taxation has minimal or no effect on smoking prevalence. Much research of the relationship between prices and smoking prevalence has been based on cross-sectional analyses, some using aggregate data [ 4 , 5 ] while others used individual-level data [ 6 – 14 ]. In 1997, Meier and Licari performed a longitudinal analysis showing that increased excise taxes were related to declines in smoking in the United States from 1955–1994 [ 15 ]; we sought to build on this work with a more contemporary dataset.…”