• Michael F Pesko, Xin Xu, Michael A Tynan, Robert B Gerzoff, Ann M Malarcher, and Terry F Pechacek.
• Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, 402 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.
• Prev Med. 2014 Jun 1; 63: 131913-9.

ObjectiveFollowing cigarette excise tax increases, smokers may use cigarette price minimization strategies to continue their usual cigarette consumption rather than reducing consumption or quitting. This reduces the public health benefits of the tax increase. This paper estimates the price reductions for a wide-range of strategies, compensating for overlapping strategies.MethodWe performed regression analysis on the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey (N=13,394) to explore price reductions that smokers in the United States obtained from purchasing cigarettes. We examined five cigarette price minimization strategies: 1) purchasing discount brand cigarettes, 2) using price promotions, 3) purchasing cartons, 4) purchasing on Indian reservations, and 5) purchasing online. Price reductions from these strategies were estimated jointly to compensate for overlapping strategies.ResultsEach strategy provided price reductions between 26 and 99cents per pack. Combined price reductions were possible. Additionally, price promotions were used with regular brands to obtain larger price reductions than when price promotions were used with generic brands.ConclusionSmokers can realize large price reductions from price minimization strategies, and there are many strategies available. Policymakers and public health officials should be aware of the extent that these strategies can reduce cigarette prices.Published by Elsevier Inc.

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