Higher Tobacco Taxes Could Save 115 Million Lives

A study published in Nature Reviews Cancer found that tripling tobacco taxes could deter new smokers, rapidly increase cessation rates, and save at least 115 million lives by 2050. The study finds that other tobacco control measures such as public education campaigns, smoke-free laws, marketing bans and cessation treatments are also effective in reducing tobacco use.

Study Findings

·         Worldwide, smoking causes approximately 5-6 million deaths per year, including 31% of all cancer deaths in middle-aged men and 6% of all cancer deaths in middle-aged women.

·         Countries such as France that have aggressively used higher taxes to curb smoking have reduced consumption much faster than countries that have not aggressively increased tobacco taxes.

·         In low- and middle-income countries, a 10% increase in tobacco prices reduces consumption by approximately 8%, which is twice the effect seen in high-income countries.

·         Tripling world tobacco taxes would increase average tobacco prices by 70% and save at least 115 million lives by 2050.

Key Messages

·         Aggressively increasing the price of tobacco through higher taxes is a highly effective strategy to reduce tobacco use.

·         Higher tobacco taxes must be part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce tobacco use that includes 100% smoke-free policies, strong warning labels, effective public education campaigns and complete bans on tobacco marketing.

Full citation: Jha P. Avoidable global cancer deaths and total deaths from smoking. Nature Reviews Cancer. 2009;9:655-664.

If you have questions about the study or how you may use it in your advocacy efforts, please email Miranda Wang at research@tobaccofre ecenter.org.