Addressing lower-priced cigarette products through three-pronged comprehensive regulation on excise taxes, minimum price policies and restrictions on price promotions

Addressing lower-priced cigarette products through three-pronged comprehensive regulation on excise taxes, minimum price policies and restrictions on price promotions

In a special communication published in Tobacco Control, ASPiRE’s Kurt Ribisl and Shelley Golden propose strategies for making higher tobacco excise taxes more effective. Designing those taxes to raise prices frequently and substantially for all products, along with minimum price laws and bans on coupons, discounts and other promotions would reduce the persistence of lower-price products and income-based smoking disparities. In combination, those policies restrict the tobacco industry’s ability to undermine the impact of higher excise taxes on retail prices. Read the special communication.