The consequences of high cigarette excise taxes for low-income smokers.

Abstract

BackgroundTo illustrate the burden of high cigarette excise taxes on low-income smokers.Methodology/principal findingsUsing data from the New York and national Adult Tobacco Surveys from 2010-2011, we estimated how smoking prevalence, daily cigarette consumption, and share of annual income spent on cigarettes vary by annual income (less than $30,000; $30,000-$59,999; and more than $60,000). The 2010-2011 sample includes 7,536 adults and 1,294 smokers from New York and 3,777 adults and 748 smokers nationally. Overall, smoking prevalence is lower in New York (16.1%) than nationally (22.2%) and is strongly associated with income in New York and nationally (PConclusions/significanceAlthough high cigarette taxes are an effective method for reducing cigarette smoking, they can impose a significant financial burden on low-income smokers.