The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68789

Pamela Van Coevering, MA, Jean L. Forster, PhD, Maribet C. McCarty, PhD, MPH, Vincent Chen, MBA, Kristi K Van Riper, BS, and Rachel Widome, MHS. Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, 612-626-9094, vancoevering@epi.umn.edu

Cigarette Company price strategies are powerful marketing tools for the tobacco industry. Teen tobacco users are especially sensitive to the prices charged for cigarettes. The Minnesota Adolescent Community Cohort (MACC) study uses cohort, cross-sectional, and time-series designs to measure adolescent tobacco-related attitudes and behaviors over time at the state, community and individual levels. The MACC study produces monthly statewide estimates of teen tobacco use that can be examined over time for links to cigarette prices. Data on cigarette prices is not generally available on a community basis. The MACC project gathered cigarette price data for three brands of cigarettes through a price survey of 215 retail outlets in the Twin Cities metro area. Cigarette price patterns for various communities in the MACC study indicate that there is a great deal of variation in cigarette prices within communities, among premium and discount brands. The average price of a pack of cigarettes ranged from $2.96 to $3.90 for the three brands studied. The highest price charged was $4.60 and the lowest price was $2.30 a pack. This presentation will examine cigarette price variability within communities as well as cigarette price patterns in relation to retail store proximity to public schools, ethnic populations and other demographic factors. We will also explore the potential relationship between cigarette prices and youth tobacco use. The validity of various study designs for obtaining cigarette price information will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• - Describe the variability in cigarette pricing in relation to retail outlet proximity to neighborhood characteristics such as SES and teen population density.
• - To explore the relationship between community youth tobacco use and local cigarette prices.
• - To undertand the strengths and limitations of various study designs for obtaining cigarette price information.

Related Web page: www.epi.umn.edu/tobacco/homepage/html

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.