How effective are pictorial warnings on tobacco products? New evidence on smoking behaviour using Australian panel data

Studies examining the introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packages provide inconclusive evidence due to small samples and methodological issues. We use individual-level panel data from Australia to examine the association between pictorial warnings and smoking behaviour – prevalence, qui...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health economics 2019-09, Vol.67, p.102215-102215, Article 102215
Main Author: Kuehnle, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Campaigns
Cessation
Cigarette smoking
Drug addiction
First year
Health administration
Health economics
Individual differences
Longitudinal studies
Methodological problems
Panel data
Pictorial warnings
Reforms
Smoking
Smoking cessation
Smoking initiation
Smoking relapse
Social costs
Television
Tobacco
Tobacco products
Warnings
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Summary:Studies examining the introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packages provide inconclusive evidence due to small samples and methodological issues. We use individual-level panel data from Australia to examine the association between pictorial warnings and smoking behaviour – prevalence, quitting, initiating and relapsing. The pictorial warnings were accompanied by a reference to a smoking cessation helpline and supportive television commercials. Applying an event study framework, we show that the reform reduced smoking rates by around 4% within the first year of the policy. The effect decreases with age, is similar for men and women, and is slightly larger for low-educated compared to high-educated individuals. The reform permanently lowered smoking rates primarily due to increased quitting in the year of the reform. Thus, pictorial warnings combined with a reference to a smoking cessation helpline and supportive media campaigns are an important tobacco control measure to reduce the social costs of smoking.
ISSN:0167-6296
1879-1646
DOI:10.1016/j.jhealeco.2019.06.002