Tobacco price increase and consumption behaviour among male smokers in Saudi Arabia: a community-based study
Mohamad Al-Tannir1,2, Amani Abu-Shaheen3, Youssef Altannir4
1Research Monitoring Department, Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Saudi Arabia doubled its tobacco tax in June 2017.
Aims:
To examine the association between an increase in tobacco prices and consumption behaviour among current male smokers in Riyadh.
Methods:
We conducted a community-based study using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to current male smokers aged 15+ years in Riyadh in 2018. The survey included questions on sociodemographic characteristics, tobacco consumption and self-reported chronic health conditions.
Results:
A total of 1481 participants were included in the final data analysis. After the tobacco tax was doubled, 25.6% of the participants reduced their cigarette consumption and 1.0% quit smoking. The average daily cigarette consumption after enforcing the tobacco tax [19.77, standard deviation (SD) 10.7], was statistically significantly lower than before taxation (21.19, SD 10.8) (P < 0.0001). The calculated price elasticity of demand was -0.20 (inelastic). Employment status (P = 0.002) and per capita gross domestic product purchasing power parity (P = 0.001) were the only statistically significant factors associated with the change in smoking habits.
Conclusions:
Increasing tobacco prices reduced tobacco consumption by 26.6% among Saudi Arabian male smokers.
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