Oral

This session examines policy implications for tobacco control by monitoring tobacco industry pricing and price-reducing practices. The price of tobacco products has an inverse impact on tobacco use initiation and consumption. A primary tobacco control strategy, therefore, is to raise tobacco prices through excise tax increases. However, there is substantial and growing evidence that tobacco companies manipulate prices and use price-reducing promotions to blunt the impact of tobacco excise tax increases and to reach selected consumers in targeted geographies. State-level cigarette price data constructed from self-reported prices are highly correlated with state cigarette excise taxes, while spatial analysis of local surveillance data examines neighborhood correlates of cigarette prices in convenience stores, the dominant channel for pack purchases.

Session Objectives: 1. Explain the need for ongoing surveillance of tobacco price and price-promotions. 2. Differentiate methods for state/local monitoring of price and promotion at the point of sale. 3. Describe trends in tobacco pricing and price-promotions across U.S. states and market areas 4. Compare he strengths and limitations of data on cigarette prices and price-reducing promotions.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH) , Masters Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES)