The Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Legal Measure to Cut the Flow of Illegal Cigarettes Into New York City: The Case of the South Bronx

Kurti, Marin; Lampe, Klaus von; Johnson, Jacqueline

doi:10.2105/ajph.2014.302340

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…36 Virginia is the most common source of cigarettes trafficked into New York City. 37 One study found that more than 80% of the illicit cigarettes found in the South Bronx are Newport menthol cigarettes, 38 a phenomenon that is also prevalent in Harlem. 39 In the event of a ban on menthol cigarettes, the supply for what is likely the most commonly bootlegged cigarette brand in New York City would evaporate, potentially resulting in an overall decrease in New York City's illicit market.…”

Section: Flood Of Unregulated Cigarettes On the Marketmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why an FDA Ban on Menthol Is Likely to Survive a Tobacco Industry Lawsuit

et al. 2019

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Section: Flood Of Unregulated Cigarettes On the Marketmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why an FDA Ban on Menthol Is Likely to Survive a Tobacco Industry Lawsuit

et al. 2019

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“…In 2011, the Second Circuit confirmed that changes made to New York State’s tax laws in 2010 requiring that a tax stamp be affixed to all cigarettes applied to cigarettes sold on Native American reservations. 26 Several participants mentioned that they switched to reservation brand cigarettes when they could no longer purchase untaxed premium brands on the reservations.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Purposementioning

confidence: 99%

“…25 Since 2011, cigarettes with stamps from low-tax states like Virginia have become the lower priced norm in NYC, while Native American reservation brands have been more widely used in other parts of the state. 16,[25][26][27][28] These studies document the widespread availability of lower priced cigarettes in both NYC and NY and the assumption that smokers temper the effects of high cigarette prices by purchasing them; however, we found only one study that documented behavioral responses to the high cigarette prices as a result of tax increases from the perspective of smokers in NY, and those data are over a decade old. Focus group data collected in 2003 from low-income smokers in Central Harlem, NYC, 29 demonstrated that smokers were able to continue smoking as cigarettes became increasingly expensive by cutting down on the number of cigarettes smoked, switching to discount brands, and purchasing cigarettes from local small-scale smugglers (ie, "bootleggers").…”

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How Low-Income Smokers in New York Access Cheaper Cigarettes

et al. 2018

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To understand the tobacco acquisition practices of low-income smokers in New York State in light of high cigarette prices due to high cigarette taxes. Design: Eight focus groups with low-income smokers were conducted in spring 2015 and 2016 (n ¼ 74). Setting: New York City (NYC) and Buffalo, New York. Participants: Low-income adults aged 18 to 65 who smoke cigarettes regularly. Method: Qualitative analysis of focus group transcripts that explored differences and similarities by region. We used the interview guide-which covered the process of acquiring cigarettes and the impact of cigarette prices-as a framework for analysis to generate themes and subthemes (deductive coding). We also generated themes and subthemes that emerged during focus group discussions (inductive coding). Results: Some smokers in Western New York have switched to untaxed cigarettes from Native American reservations, whereas low-income smokers in NYC described convenient sources of bootlegged cigarettes (packs or loosies) in their local neighborhood stores, through acquaintances, or on the street. Familiarity with the retailer was key to accessing bootlegged cigarettes from retailers. Conclusions: Smokers in this study could access cheaper cigarettes, which discouraged quit attempts and allowed them to continue smoking. The availability of lower priced cigarettes may attenuate public health efforts aimed at reducing smoking prevalence through price and tax increases.

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“…Data were obtained from focus groups with a purposive sample of self-identified smokers who reside in the South Bronx, which is a geographic area within a borough of New York City (the Bronx) with a high prevalence of illicit cigarettes, typically bootlegged from low-tax states like Virginia ( Chernick and Merriman, 2013 ; Kurti et al, 2015 ; Lovenheim, 2008 ; Shelley et al, 2007 ; von Lampe and Kurti, 2016 ; John and Ross, 2017 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“I'm gonna get me a loosie” Understanding single cigarette purchases by adult smokers in a disadvantaged section of New York City

Lampe

Kurti

Johnson

2018

Preventive Medicine Reports

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This study seeks to update and expand our understanding of the perceptions and purchasing patterns of smokers of single cigarettes (‘loosies’) in disadvantaged urban areas. Semi-structured guides were used in thirteen focus groups with 67 self-identified adult smokers from the South Bronx section of New York City in summer 2013.There is wide availability of single cigarettes in the South Bronx, with legitimate stores overwhelmingly being the preferred venue for purchases. Single cigarettes are sold at higher per-unit prices than illicit packs. However, buyers of single cigarettes can achieve cost savings compared to legal, fully taxed cigarette packs. Apart from cost-savings, smokers opt for single cigarettes to reduce their personal cigarette consumption. There is a general perception of market resilience despite law enforcement intervention. However, law enforcement has a limiting effect on access to single cigarettes outside of an individual smoker's immediate neighborhood.The findings suggest that single cigarette sales are an important element of the illicit cigarette market in disadvantaged communities which should not be ignored in future research on the nature and extent of cigarette tax avoidance and evasion.

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The Intended and Unintended Consequences of a Legal Measure to Cut the Flow of Illegal Cigarettes Into New York City: The Case of the South Bronx

Abstract: After the tax amendment, the supply of contraband cigarettes appears to have quickly shifted from one lower-priced jurisdiction to another without a change in the overall prevalence of contraband cigarettes.

Cited by 18 publications

References 5 publications

Why an FDA Ban on Menthol Is Likely to Survive a Tobacco Industry Lawsuit

Why an FDA Ban on Menthol Is Likely to Survive a Tobacco Industry Lawsuit

How Low-Income Smokers in New York Access Cheaper Cigarettes

“I'm gonna get me a loosie” Understanding single cigarette purchases by adult smokers in a disadvantaged section of New York City

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