The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #47841

Frank Chaloupka, PhD, Health Research and Policy Centers (M/C 275), University of Illinois at Chicago, 850 West Jackson Blvd, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60607-3025, 312-413-2287, fjc@uic.edu

The Role of Tax Increases in Reducing Consumption

This presentation will begin with a review of current state and federal cigarette and other tobacco excise taxes and recent trends in these taxes. This will be followed by a review of the evidence on the impact of tobacco taxes on the prevalence of tobacco use and consumption of tobacco products, with a particular emphasis on their impact on youth, young adults, and low-income populations. The impact of tax-funded tobacco control efforts will be briefly reviewed, and the public health benefits of higher tobacco taxes will be discussed. Myths about the harmful economic impact of higher tobacco taxes will be discussed, and evidence on the actual impact of increased taxes will be presented. A large and growing body of research clearly demonstrates that higher cigarette and other tobacco product taxes are very effective in reducing tobacco use, particularly among younger and/or lower-income populations. The public health benefits resulting from higher tobacco taxes are substantial.

Learning Objectives: After this presentation, session participants will

• understand current tobacco taxes and recent trends in these taxes in the U.S.
• understand the impact of tobacco tax increases on tobacco use, including use among youth, young adults, and low-income populations; and
• understand the public health benefits of tobacco tax increases

Related Web page: www.impacteen.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.