Open AccessTobacco price increase and consumption behaviour among male smokers in Saudi Arabia: a community-based study
Author(s) -
Mohamad Al-Tannir,
Amani AbuShaheen,
Youssef Altannir,
Mustafa Altannir
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/emhj.20.066
Subject(s) - medicine , tobacco product , per capita , consumption (sociology) , demography , environmental health , population , social science , sociology
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