Tuberc Respir Dis.  2020 Jan;83(1):71-80. 10.4046/trd.2019.0011.

Positive Effects of the National Cigarette Price Increase Policy on Smoking Cessation in South Korea

• Kwon DS
• Kim TH
• Byun MK
• Kim HJ
• Lee HS
• Park HJ
• Korean Smoking Cessation Study Group

• KMID: 2466622
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2019.0011

Abstract

BACKGROUND
In January 2015, South Korea's government raised the cigarette tax, and the retail price of cigarettes abruptly increased by 80% compared to the previous year. This research aimed to determine the effect of this increase on smoking cessation among South Korean smokers.
METHODS
We analyzed data collected by the 2013-2015 South Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 15,203 South Koreans over 19 years old using regression analysis. We examined the recent non-smoking period of nonsmoking people, prepared according to the survey, and analyzed the recent smoking cessation ratio.
RESULTS
Among smokers, from 2013 to 2014, the smoking cessation rate was 7.2%, and it increased to 9.9% in 2015 after the increase in the cigarette tax. In 2015, the recent smoking cessation rate was higher among people over the age of 60 (odds ratio [OR], 2.67) compared to those between the ages of 40 and 49. The recent smoking cessation rate was higher among people with below elementary education (OR, 2.28) and above university education (OR, 1.94) compared to high school, higher for those with apartments (OR, 1.74) compared to general type residences, and higher among those with a household income in the low-middle quartile (Q2) (OR, 2.32) compared to the highest quartile (Q4).
CONCLUSION
This innovative policy including increase in cigarette prices affected smoking cessation, and its impact varied by sub-group of smokers in South Korea.

Keyword

Cigarette Price; South Korea; Smoking; Policy

MeSH Terms

Education
Family Characteristics
Humans
Korea*
Nutrition Surveys
Smoke*
Smoking Cessation*
Smoking*
Taxes
Tobacco Products*
Smoke

Figure

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  Figure 1 Effects of abrupt cigarette price increase on recent smoking cessation rate in Korea. (A) The price change for one pack of cigarettes from 1989 to 2015 in Korea. (B) Habit changes after cigarette price increase. (C) Changes in recent smoking cessation rates before (2013–2014) and after (2015) cigarette price increase. *p<0.05 signifies changes in recent smoking cessation rates according to year.

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