The Impact of Cigarette Tax increase on Smoking Behavior of Daily Smokers
Mondha Kengganpanich PhD*, Lakkhana Termsirikulchai PhD*, Sarunya Benjakul PhD**
Affiliation : * Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Bureau of Tobacco Control, Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand
Objective : To assess the impact of excise tax increase on smoking behavior of daily smokers aged 15 years and
over and to explore the association between smokers’ characteristics and smoking behavior prior and after
excise tax increase
Material and Method: This cross-sectional survey was performed in 504 daily smokers, who were selected
from data records of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) between February and April, 2009. The data were
collected by telephone interview in the first and second weeks of July, 2009. Data were analyzed by frequency
distribution and binary logistic regression.
Results : After the cigarette tax increase, 9.7% of daily smokers quitted smoking and 48.0% reduced the
amount of cigarettes and/or changed the brands and types of tobacco, from manufactured cigarettes to hand-
rolled cigarettes. After other covariance being adjusted, the analysis revealed that the amount of cigarettes
per day, the types of cigarettes (manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes), and the smokers’ reaction towards
the increased price after the excise tax increase were respectively associated with the fact that the smokers
quitted smoking or reduced the amount of cigarettes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion : Cigarette tax increase is beneficial for government revenue and it also affects smoking behavior
change of daily smokers. However, Ministry of Public Health should co-operate with Ministry of Finance to
raise the tax rate on both cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes continuously and provide sufficient cessation
service to respond to the need to quit smoking.
Keywords : Cigarette tax increase, Smoking behavior, Daily smokers
