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Levy DT, Liber AC, Cadham C, Sanchez-Romero LM, Hyland A, Cummings M, Douglas C, Meza R, Henriksen L. Follow the money: a closer look at US tobacco industry marketing expenditures. Tob Control 2023; 32:575-582. [PMID: 35074930 PMCID: PMC9346571 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While much of the concern with tobacco industry marketing has focused on direct media advertising, a less explored form of marketing strategy is to discount prices. Price discounting is important because it keeps the purchase price low and can undermine the impact of tax increases. METHODS We examine annual US marketing expenditures from 1975 to 2019 by the largest cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies as reported to the Federal Trade Commission. We consider three categories: direct advertising, promotional allowances and price discounting. In addition to considering trends in these expenditures, we examine how price discounting expenditures relate to changes in product prices and excise taxes. RESULTS US direct advertising expenditures for cigarettes fell from 80% of total industry marketing expenditures in 1975 to less than 3% in 2019, while falling from 39% in 1985 to 6% in 2019 for smokeless tobacco. Price discounting expenditures for cigarettes became prominent after the Master Settlement Agreement and related tax increases in 2002. By 2019, 87% of cigarette marketing expenditures were for price discounts and 7% for promotional allowances. Smokeless marketing expenditures were similar: 72% for price promotions and 13% for promotional allowances. Price discounting increased with prices and taxes until reaching their currently high levels. CONCLUSIONS Between 1975 and 2019, direct advertising dramatically fell while price discounting and promotional expenditures increased. Local, state and federal policies are needed that apply non-tax mechanisms to increase tobacco prices and restrict industry contracts to offset industry marketing strategies. Further study is needed to better understand industry decisions about marketing expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
- David T Levy
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Alex C Liber
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher Cadham
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Andrew Hyland
- Health Behavior, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Michael Cummings
- Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Cliff Douglas
- Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Rafael Meza
- Epidemiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lisa Henriksen
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Rajani NB, Qi D, Chang K, Kyriakos CN, Filippidis FT. Price differences between capsule, menthol non-capsule and unflavoured cigarettes in 65 countries in 2018. Prev Med Rep 2023; 34:102252. [PMID: 37252069 PMCID: PMC10220479 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The global consumption of flavoured cigarettes, particularly capsule and menthol non-capsule cigarettes, has been rising rapidly. Their attractiveness has been fuelled by perceptions of improved palatability, along with industry marketing tactics such as lower price points in some regions. This study aimed to compare prices of unflavoured, capsule, and menthol non-capsule cigarettes across 65 countries by analysing 2018 cigarette price data from Euromonitor Passport. Median prices of capsule and menthol non-capsule cigarettes were each compared to unflavoured cigarettes at the country-level. Countries were included in the analysis if they contained price data for capsule or menthol non-capsule and unflavoured cigarettes (n = 65). The median price of capsule cigarettes was the same as unflavoured cigarettes in 12 out of 50 countries and not statistically different in another 31 countries (p > 0.05). Capsule cigarettes were more expensive than unflavoured cigarettes in five countries and cheaper in two (p < 0.05). The median price of menthol non-capsule cigarettes was the same as unflavoured cigarettes in 6 out of 51 countries and not statistically different in another 39 countries (p > 0.05). Menthol non-capsule cigarettes were more expensive than unflavoured cigarettes in five countries and cheaper in one country (p < 0.05). There was no pattern found in the pricing of capsule or menthol non-capsule cigarettes, suggesting variability in the tobacco industry's pricing strategies across countries. Tailoring tobacco control policies to match national market conditions, particularly in countries with significant market shares of capsule and menthol non-capsule cigarettes could help address the public health threat posed by the tobacco epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita B. Rajani
- Corresponding author at: School of Public Health, Imperial College London, Reynolds Building, St. Dunstan's Road, London W6 8RP, United Kingdom.
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Guindon GE, Montreuil A, Driezen P, Stahlbaum R, Giolat D, Baskerville NB. Do cigarette prices near secondary schools vary by area-level socioeconomic status? Findings from a field study in Ontario and Québec, Canada. Health Place 2023; 79:102936. [PMID: 36493496 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine, in the context of youth smoking, whether cigarette prices near secondary schools varied by area-level socioeconomic status in Southwestern and Central Ontario, and the greater Montréal region. METHODS We collected cigarette prices four times between 2016 and 2019 from stores near secondary schools and used mixed-effects and ordinary least squares regressions. RESULTS We found consistent evidence that cigarette prices near secondary schools were lower in neighbourhoods with lower area-level household income, and that differences were large enough to be meaningful. In Ontario and Québec, our results indicate a Can$0.26 [0.04, 0.47] to Can$0.51 [0.33, 0.69] and Can$0.10 [-0.04, 0.24] to Can$0.37 [0.22, 0.52] difference in prices for a pack of 25 cigarettes between neighbourhoods with a median household income standard deviation below/above the provincial median, respectively. CONCLUSION Policy changes that limit area-level cigarette price differences without lowering cigarette prices may reduce inequities in youth smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Emmanuel Guindon
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; Department of Economics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
| | - Annie Montreuil
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, QC, Canada; Département de psychologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Pete Driezen
- Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada; School of Public Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Ryan Stahlbaum
- Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Didier Giolat
- Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - N Bruce Baskerville
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada; Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Henriksen L. Retail-focused tobacco control: equity and endgame implications. Tob Control 2022; 31:e96-e98. [DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Henriksen L, Schleicher NC, Fortmann SP. Menthol cigarettes in black neighbourhoods: still cheaper after all these years. Tob Control 2022; 31:e211-e212. [PMID: 34385403 PMCID: PMC8837722 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Henriksen
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Nina C Schleicher
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Stephen P Fortmann
- Science Programs Department, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Liber AC, Sánchez-Romero LM, Cadham CJ, Yuan Z, Li Y, Oh H, Cook S, Warner KE, Henriksen L, Mistry R, Meza R, Fleischer NL, Levy DT. Tobacco Couponing: A Systematic Review of Exposures and Effects on Tobacco Initiation and Cessation. Nicotine Tob Res 2022; 24:1523-1533. [PMID: 35143678 PMCID: PMC9575981 DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntac037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tobacco couponing continues to be part of contemporary tobacco marketing in the United States. We performed a systematic review of the evidence of tobacco product coupon receipt and redemption to inform regulation. AIMS AND METHODS We searched EMBASE OVID and Medline databases for observational (cross-sectional and longitudinal) studies that examined the prevalence of tobacco coupon receipt and coupon redemption across different subpopulations, as well as studies of the association between coupon receipt and redemption with tobacco initiation and cessation at follow-up. We extracted unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for the associations between coupon exposure (receipt, redemption) and tobacco use outcomes (initiation, cessation) and assessed each studies' potential risk of bias. RESULTS Twenty-seven studies met the criteria for inclusion. Of 60 observations extracted, 37 measured coupon receipt, nine measured coupon redemption, eight assessed tobacco use initiation, and six assessed cessation. Tobacco product coupon receipt and redemption tended to be more prevalent among younger adults, women, lower education individuals, members of sexual and gender minorities, and more frequent tobacco users. Coupon receipt at baseline was associated with greater initiation. Coupon receipt and redemption at baseline were associated with lower cessation at follow-up among tobacco users. Results in high-quality studies did not generally differ from all studies. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco product coupon receipt and redemption are often more prevalent among price-sensitive subpopulations. Most concerning, our results suggest coupon receipt may be associated with higher tobacco initiation and lower tobacco cessation. Couponing thereby increases the toll of tobacco use and could prove to be a viable public health policy intervention point. IMPLICATIONS A systematic review was conducted of the scientific literature about the receipt, redemption, and effects on tobacco initiation and cessation of tobacco product couponing. This review found that tobacco coupons are more often received by price-sensitive persons and these coupons serve to increase tobacco initiation and decrease tobacco cessation. Policy efforts to address these consequences may help curb tobacco's harms and address health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex C Liber
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Luz María Sánchez-Romero
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christopher J Cadham
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Zhe Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Yameng Li
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Hayoung Oh
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Steven Cook
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kenneth E Warner
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lisa Henriksen
- Department of Oncology, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Ritesh Mistry
- Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rafael Meza
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Nancy L Fleischer
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David T Levy
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Washington, DC, USA
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Kong AY, Henriksen L. Retail endgame strategies: reduce tobacco availability and visibility and promote health equity. Tob Control 2022; 31:243-249. [PMID: 35241596 PMCID: PMC8908901 DOI: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
An increasing number of countries have set tobacco endgame goals that target dramatic reductions in smoking prevalence. To achieve those targets and promote health equity, policies are needed to reduce the retail supply and visibility of tobacco products. Focusing on retailer reduction strategies and tobacco display bans, this special communication reviews solution-oriented research about the retail environment. It highlights examples of policy implementation and identifies data needs and research gaps for designing and evaluating retail policies to promote population health equitably.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Y Kong
- Family and Preventive Medicine, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
- TSET Health Promotion Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Lisa Henriksen
- Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
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