Abstract
ObjectiveWe examined Australian tobacco purchasing trends, the average self-reported price paid within each purchase type and the association between type of tobacco product purchased and participant characteristics, including quit intentions, between 2007 and 2020.MethodsWe analysed data collected from adults who smoked factory-made and/or roll-your-own (RYO) cigarettes in nine waves (2007–2020) of the International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project Australia Survey (nsample=5452, nobservations=11 534). The main outcome measures were type of tobacco products purchased: RYO, carton, pack or pouch size and brand segment. Logistic regression, fit using generalised estimating equations, was estimated the association between the outcome and participant characteristics.ResultsThe reported price-minimising purchasing patterns increased from 2007 to 2020: any RYO (23.8–43.9%), large-sized pack (2007: 24.0% to 2016: 34.3%); shifting from large-sized to small-sized packs (2020: 37.7%), and economy brand (2007: 37.2% to 2020: 59.3%); shifting from large (2007: 55.8%) to small economy packs (2014: 15.3% to 2020: 48.1%). Individuals with a lower income, a higher nicotine dependence level and no quit intention were more likely to purchase RYO and large-sized packs.ConclusionRYO, large-sized packs and products with a low upfront cost (eg, small RYO pouches and small-sized economy brand packs) may appeal to people on low incomes. Australia’s diverse tobacco pack and pouch sizes allow the tobacco industry to influence tobacco purchases. Standardising pack and pouch sizes may reduce some price-related marketing and especially benefit people who have a low income, are highly addicted and have no quit intention.
Funder
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
University of Queensland
National Institutes of Health
National Health and Medical Research Council
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health (social science)
Reference63 articles.
1. Motivations to change smoking behaviors between 2007 and 2019 in Australia: a repeated cross-sectional study;Cho;Nicotine Tob Res,2023
2. Scollo M , Bayly M . Tobacco in Australia: facts and issues. 13.3 the price of tobacco products in Australia [Tobacco in Australia]. Available: https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-13-taxation/13-3-the-price-of-tobacco-products-in-australia [Accessed 10 Jun 2023].
3. Scollo M , Bayly M . Tobacco in Australia. 13.2 tobacco taxes in Australia [Tobacco in Australia]. Available: https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-13-taxation/13-2-tobacco-taxes-in-australia [Accessed 11 Jan 2023].
4. Who uses rollies? Trends in product offerings, price and use of roll-your-own tobacco in Australia
5. Tobacco taxes have mixed effects on socioeconomic disparities;Blakely;Lancet Public Health,2019