2.10 Factors driving reductions in tobacco consumption

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2.0 Introduction

2.1 Production and trade data as a basis for estimating tobacco consumption

2.2 Dutiable tobacco products as an estimate of tobacco consumption

2.3 Self-reported measures of tobacco consumption

2.4 Expenditure on tobacco products

2.5 Industry sales figures as estimates for consumption

2.6 Comparisons of quality and results using various estimates of tobacco consumption in Australia

2.7 Per capita consumption in Australia compared with other countries

2.8 Tobacco consumption not captured in government or industry figures

2.9 Best estimate of recent tobacco consumption in Australia

2.10 Factors driving reductions in tobacco consumption

Acknowledgments

References

The decline in tobacco consumption over the past 15 years among young people and over the past 30 years among the population as a whole has corresponded with increased publicity about smoking and the introduction of comprehensive tobacco control policies. Such policies as described in national tobacco control strategies in Australia91-93 include restriction of tobacco marketing, improved enforcement of laws prohibiting sales to minors, increased cigarette prices, smokefree policies, Quit campaigns, and improved services and treatment for smokers.

Figures 2.14 above and 2.15 below depict tobacco consumption among secondary-school students and among adults, highlighting the timing of introduction of some of these major tobacco control initiatives.

Detailed econometric analysis of such data shows that increases in tobacco prices have an immediate, measurable and significant effect on tobacco consumption—see Chapters 13 and 17 for further details. Public education campaigns and the introduction of smokefree policies also have a rapid, measurable impact on tobacco consumption—see Chapters 14 and 15. Many other tobacco control initiatives also contribute to declining tobacco consumption.94 Underlying all these policy initiatives—both helping to drive them and resulting from them—is the effects on consumption of declining social acceptability of smoking.95