Cigarette Tax Hike Eases Smoking But May Spur Bootlegging
July 05, 2007
According to the recent study conducted at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, a rapid increase in the cigarette price eventually incites illegal sale of untaxed cigarettes among deprived minority communities.
Being the first study conducted as to inspect effect of smoking policies on the tobacco usage among disadvantaged minorities, the research was conducted on 14 groups of smokers in Central Harlem, New York. They informed researchers that a steep hike in cigarette tax paved way for the development of persistent illicit cigarette market in a low-income minority community.
Though interviewed smokers were interested to quit, but
bootleggers built up such ambiance wherein cheap cigarettes were easily
accessible over smoking cessation
facilities services", articulated Donna Shelley, the study's principal
researcher and MD, MPH, assistant professor of Clinical Sociomedical Sciences
at the Mailman School of Public Health.
On the streets, popular brands could be purchased for as little as $5 per pack and a highly visible channel of bootleggers often recognized as "the $5 man" emerged just after the tax raise and served as a novel resource of low-priced cigarettes.
Under this study, most smokers were found succumbed to cigarettes sold by the $5 man across the community in crowed shopping spots, on subway entrances and street corners. Other handy sources of low-priced cigarettes included out of package and loosies or single cigarettes marketed illicitly at local grocery stores. Out of the state cigarette's purchase was also notified as one another versatile strategy to savor low-price.
While smokers suggested few additional tactics to circumvent price-hike like trimming down and application of discount brands, the $5 man was reported as the prime factor behind smokers' enhanced inclination towards low-cost cigarettes just after the tax hike.
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