Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control
Background Increases in tobacco taxation are acknowledged to be one of the most effective tobacco control interventions. This study aimed at determining the mediating role of socioeconomical status (SES) and the earmarking of revenue to healthcare and tobacco control, in influencing population suppo...
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doaj-29dcbbf8115f4675ae927e3c2d375a682020-11-24T20:40:18ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252012-12-0110December10.1186/1617-9625-10-2166110Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco controlConstantine I Vardavas0Filippos T. Filippidis1Israel T. Agaku2Vasileios Mytaras3Monique Bertic4Gregory N. Connolly5Yannis Tountas6Panagiotis K. Behrakis7Center for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USACenter for Health Services Research, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceCenter for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USASmoking and Lung Cancer Research Center, Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, GreeceCenter for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USACenter for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USACenter for Health Services Research, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceCenter for Global Tobacco Control, Department of Society, Human Development and Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, USABackground Increases in tobacco taxation are acknowledged to be one of the most effective tobacco control interventions. This study aimed at determining the mediating role of socioeconomical status (SES) and the earmarking of revenue to healthcare and tobacco control, in influencing population support for the adoption of a 2 Euro tobacco tax increase in Greece, amid the challenging economic environment and current austerity measures. Methods Data was collected from two national household surveys, the “Hellas Health III” survey, conducted in October 2010 and the "Hellas Tobacco survey” conducted in September 2012. Data was analyzed from 694 and 1066 respondents aged 18 years or more, respectively. Logistic regression models were fitted to measure the adjusted relationship between socio-economic factors for the former, and support for increased taxation on tobacco products for the latter. Results In 2012 amidst the Greek financial crisis, population support for a flat two euro tax increase reached 72.1%, if earmarked for health care and tobacco control, a percentage high both among non-smokers (76%) and smokers (64%) alike. On the contrary, when not earmarked, only 43.6% of the population was in support of the equivalent increase. Women were more likely to change their mind and support a flat two-euro increase if the revenue was earmarked for health care and tobacco control (aOR = 1.70; 95% C.I: 1.22-2.38, p = 0.002). Furthermore, support for an increase in tobacco taxation was not associated with SES and income. Conclusions Despite dire austerity measures in Greece, support for an increase in tobacco taxation was high among both smokers and non-smokers, however, only when specifically earmarked towards health care and tobacco control. This should be taken into account not only in Greece, but within all countries facing social and economic reform.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Tobacco-taxation-the-importance-of-earmarking-the-revenue-to-health-care-and-tobacco-control,66110,0,2.htmltobacco controltobacco productcurrent smoking statusGreek populationNational Household Survey |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Constantine I Vardavas Filippos T. Filippidis Israel T. Agaku Vasileios Mytaras Monique Bertic Gregory N. Connolly Yannis Tountas Panagiotis K. Behrakis |
spellingShingle |
Constantine I Vardavas Filippos T. Filippidis Israel T. Agaku Vasileios Mytaras Monique Bertic Gregory N. Connolly Yannis Tountas Panagiotis K. Behrakis Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control Tobacco Induced Diseases tobacco control tobacco product current smoking status Greek population National Household Survey |
author_facet |
Constantine I Vardavas Filippos T. Filippidis Israel T. Agaku Vasileios Mytaras Monique Bertic Gregory N. Connolly Yannis Tountas Panagiotis K. Behrakis |
author_sort |
Constantine I Vardavas |
title |
Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
title_short |
Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
title_full |
Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
title_fullStr |
Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
title_full_unstemmed |
Tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
title_sort |
tobacco taxation: the importance of earmarking the revenue to health care and tobacco control |
publisher |
European Publishing |
series |
Tobacco Induced Diseases |
issn |
1617-9625 |
publishDate |
2012-12-01 |
description |
Background
Increases in tobacco taxation are acknowledged to be one of the most effective tobacco control interventions. This study aimed at determining the mediating role of socioeconomical status (SES) and the earmarking of revenue to healthcare and tobacco control, in influencing population support for the adoption of a 2 Euro tobacco tax increase in Greece, amid the challenging economic environment and current austerity measures.
Methods
Data was collected from two national household surveys, the “Hellas Health III” survey, conducted in October 2010 and the "Hellas Tobacco survey” conducted in September 2012. Data was analyzed from 694 and 1066 respondents aged 18 years or more, respectively. Logistic regression models were fitted to measure the adjusted relationship between socio-economic factors for the former, and support for increased taxation on tobacco products for the latter.
Results
In 2012 amidst the Greek financial crisis, population support for a flat two euro tax increase reached 72.1%, if earmarked for health care and tobacco control, a percentage high both among non-smokers (76%) and smokers (64%) alike. On the contrary, when not earmarked, only 43.6% of the population was in support of the equivalent increase. Women were more likely to change their mind and support a flat two-euro increase if the revenue was earmarked for health care and tobacco control (aOR = 1.70; 95% C.I: 1.22-2.38, p = 0.002). Furthermore, support for an increase in tobacco taxation was not associated with SES and income.
Conclusions
Despite dire austerity measures in Greece, support for an increase in tobacco taxation was high among both smokers and non-smokers, however, only when specifically earmarked towards health care and tobacco control. This should be taken into account not only in Greece, but within all countries facing social and economic reform. |
topic |
tobacco control tobacco product current smoking status Greek population National Household Survey |
url |
http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Tobacco-taxation-the-importance-of-earmarking-the-revenue-to-health-care-and-tobacco-control,66110,0,2.html |
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