Journal of Environmental and Public Health

Volume 2012 (2012), Article ID 961724, 36 pages

doi:10.1155/2012/961724

Review Article

Impact of Tobacco Control Interventions on Smoking Initiation, Cessation, and Prevalence: A Systematic Review

Lisa M. Wilson,¹ Erika Avila Tang,2,3 Geetanjali Chander,¹ Heidi E. Hutton,⁴ Olaide A. Odelola,⁵ Jessica L. Elf,2,3 Brandy M. Heckman-Stoddard,⁶ Eric B. Bass,1,7 Emily A. Little,¹ Elisabeth B. Haberl,¹ and Benjamin J. Apelberg2,3

¹Division of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

²Department of Epidemiology, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

³Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

⁴Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA

⁵Department of Internal Medicine, Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA 19141, USA

⁶Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

⁷Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

Received 2 December 2011; Accepted 8 March 2012

Academic Editor: Vaughan Rees

Copyright © 2012 Lisa M. Wilson et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Background. Policymakers need estimates of the impact of tobacco control (TC) policies to set priorities and targets for reducing tobacco use. We systematically reviewed the independent effects of TC policies on smoking behavior. Methods. We searched MEDLINE (through January 2012) and EMBASE and other databases through February 2009, looking for studies published after 1989 in any language that assessed the effects of each TC intervention on smoking prevalence, initiation, cessation, or price participation elasticity. Paired reviewers extracted data from studies that isolated the impact of a single TC intervention. Findings. We included 84 studies. The strength of evidence quantifying the independent effect on smoking prevalence was high for increasing tobacco prices and moderate for smoking bans in public places and antitobacco mass media campaigns. Limited direct evidence was available to quantify the effects of health warning labels and bans on advertising and sponsorship. Studies were too heterogeneous to pool effect estimates. Interpretations. We found evidence of an independent effect for several TC policies on smoking prevalence. However, we could not derive precise estimates of the effects across different settings because of variability in the characteristics of the intervention, level of policy enforcement, and underlying tobacco control environment.

1. Introduction

Tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death, responsible for over 5 million deaths annually [1]. Currently, more than 1 billion people smoke, with over 80% living in low- and middle-income countries [2]. However, countries are at different stages of the tobacco epidemic [3]. Many countries have achieved substantial declines in smoking and tobacco-related disease through the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control programs, while others are experiencing increases in smoking prevalence. Tobacco control efforts have evolved over time as evidence has grown to support the use of different approaches. The population-based approaches most commonly used have included increased taxes, public education through mass media campaigns and health warnings, tobacco marketing restrictions, and the introduction of smoke-free indoor environments.

With the introduction of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) [4] and MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce, Raise) policy package [5], tobacco control policies are being implemented worldwide. To model the impacts of these policies and develop achievable targets for smoking prevalence, policy makers need estimates of the independent effects of interventions on smoking behavior. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the independent effect on smoking prevalence of four tobacco control policies outlined in the WHO MPOWER Package [5]: increasing taxes on tobacco products, banning smoking in public places, banning advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products, and educating people through health warning labels and antitobacco mass media campaigns (Table 1). We focused on the degree of certainty in the estimated impact and factors that may influence the impact.

Table 1: Definitions of the tobacco control interventions.

Key question
Intervention definition
Study design criteria

Taxation
Any change in price or tax on cigarettes

Banning smoking in public places
Policy or legislative change at the national, state, or community level that prohibits or restricts smoking in indoor environments. The target of the ban or restriction could include worksites, public places, and bars and/or restaurants. Smoking bans are classified as (1) complete when 100% smoke-free or no smoking allowed in any indoor area; (2) partial when smoking is restricted or limited to designated areas. We excluded smoking bans that were conducted among a specialized population, such as hospitalized patients, military recruits, or prisoners. While we did not include specific worksite smoking bans, we included studies conducted among specific workers if it evaluated a policy or legislative smoking ban
(i) cluster randomized trial

(ii) longitudinal study

(iii) pre-/post- repeated cross-sectional study with a comparison group

(iv) pre-/post- repeated cross-sectional study without a comparison group*

(v) time series analysis

Banning advertising and sponsorship
Ban or restriction on advertising or sponsorship, which may include television, radio, print, or internet advertising, point of purchase displays, product placement, and sponsorship of any type of event

Health warning labels
Any required changes to the packaging of tobacco products intended to disseminate health warnings or eliminate the use of terms implying a safer product (e.g., changes to graphic images or text of health warning labels or restrictions on the use of terms, such as “mild,” “low tar,” or “light”)

Mass media campaigns
Any campaign intended to reduce tobacco use using “channels of communication such as television, radio, newspapers, billboards, posters, leaflets, or booklets intended to reach large numbers of people, which are not dependent on person-to-person contact” [108]

*Excluded from the mass media campaign review.

2. Methods

2.1. Study Design and Scope

For our systematic review of published studies, smoking was defined as the use of cigarettes and/or other smoked products, such as cigars, cigarillos, bidis, hookahs, water pipes, and kreteks. We excluded smokeless tobacco products. Outcomes of interest were smoking prevalence, initiation or cessation rates, and price participation elasticity (PPE) (the relative percentage change in smoking prevalence for every 1% change in price). We excluded outcomes such as quit attempts or tobacco consumption because they did not directly address the impact of interventions on smoking prevalence.

2.2. Search Strategy

We searched five databases: MEDLINE (accessed via PubMed, January 1950 through January 2012), EMBASE (January 1974 through February 2009), The Cochrane Library (Issue 1, 2009), the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL, January 1982 through February 2009), and PsycInfo (from inception through February 2009). Our electronic search strategy used medical subject headings and text words for smoking and the tobacco control interventions and was limited to human subjects (see the appendix for the MEDLINE search string). We reviewed recent issues of ten economics and public health journals, reference lists of included articles, relevant reviews, books, and reports.

2.3. Study Selection

Two reviewers independently assessed titles, abstracts, and articles for inclusion. We included peer-reviewed studies published in any language that: measured smoking prevalence, initiation, cessation, or PPE; assessed the independent effects of at least one of the tobacco control interventions; met our study design criteria (Table 1). Because modeling approaches typically require estimates of independent effects, we excluded studies evaluating multicomponent interventions. Studies published prior to 1990 were excluded because the smoking population may have changed over time. Conflicts on eligibility were resolved through consensus.

2.4. Data Extraction

Reviewers used a Web-based system to extract data from eligible studies on study design, interventions, and smoking prevalence. Extracted data were checked by a second reviewer. Study quality was assessed independently by two reviewers.

We were unable to conduct meta-analyses because of the heterogeneity of the studies. Instead, we prepared a qualitative summary of results by intervention type and highlighted key sources of heterogeneity.

2.5. Grading of Evidence

We graded the quantity, quality, and consistency of results based on the GRADE working group criteria [6]. “High” strength of evidence indicates high confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research is very unlikely to change the result. “Moderate” strength of evidence indicates moderate confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research may change the result. “Low” strength of evidence indicates low confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research is likely to change the result. An “insufficient” grade indicates that no evidence was available to quantify the independent effect.

2.6. Role of the Funding Source

The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease suggested the topic, but was not involved in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or in the writing of the paper. The authors retained full control over the conduct and reporting of the paper.

3. Results

3.1. Search Results

From our search of 20,102 unique citations, we included 84 studies (88 publications) (Figure 1). Thirty-five evaluated taxation, 29 evaluated smoking bans, 5 evaluated advertising or sponsorship bans, 4 evaluated health warning labels, and 19 evaluated mass media campaigns. Twelve studies assessed smoking initiation (11 among youths), 25 assessed smoking cessation (4 among youths), and 52 (19 among youths) assessed smoking prevalence. Eight studies were conducted in low- and middle-income countries. The overall summary of the evidence for these interventions is presented in Table 2.

Table 2: Overall summary of the impact of tobacco control interventions on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence.

Intervention
Smoking behavior

Increasing the price through taxation
Overall: high* evidence to estimate the independent impact on smoking behavior

Initiation: moderate evidence, 4 out of 5 longitudinal studies demonstrated some effectiveness; PPE of initiation ranged from −0.65 to −0.09

Cessation: moderate evidence, price elasticity of cessation ranged from 0.375 to 1.17

Prevalence: high evidence, suggesting effectiveness

PPEs ranged from −1.41 to −0.10 among youths and −0.45 to 0.10 among adults

Banning smoking in public places
Overall: moderate evidence to estimate the independent impact on smoking behavior

Initiation: low evidence, unable to make a conclusion due to equivocal results

Cessation: low evidence, 2 of 3 longitudinal studies with comparison groups did not find a significant change in cessation rates after implementation

Prevalence: moderate evidence, suggesting effectiveness;

Percentage change in prevalence† ranged from −31.9% to −7.4% compared with control groups after 1 to 3.5 years

Banning advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products
Overall: insufficient evidence to estimate the independent impact on smoking behavior

Initiation: insufficient evidence, unable to make a conclusion because no studies were included

Cessation: insufficient evidence, unable to make a conclusion because no studies were included

Prevalence: low evidence, unable to make a conclusion due to low quality studies;

Two studies among adults showing no effectiveness, 2 studies among youths showing some effectiveness‡, and 1 found an increased prevalence with stronger laws

Educating people about the dangers of smoking through health warning labels
Overall: insufficient evidence to estimate the independent impact on smoking behavior

Initiation: insufficient evidence, unable to make a conclusion because no studies were included

Cessation: low evidence, 2 studies showing no effectiveness

Prevalence: low evidence, 2 studies showing no effectiveness

Educating people about the dangers of smoking through mass media campaigns
Overall: moderate evidence to estimate the independent impact on smoking behavior

Initiation: moderate evidence, suggesting effectiveness

One cluster RCT demonstrated no effectiveness, but 4 longitudinal studies suggested a reduced initiation rate (odds of initiating smoking ranged from 0.67 to 0.8)¶

Cessation: low evidence, unable to make a conclusion due to equivocal results.

Seven studies with comparison groups showed equivocal results∧

Prevalence: moderate evidence, suggesting effectiveness.

Odds of being a smoker 1 to 6 years after start of intervention* ranged from 0.62 to 0.93§, but one cluster RCT showed no effect on smoking prevalence

*Grading classification: high strength of evidence indicates high confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research is very unlikely to change the result. Moderate strength of evidence indicates moderate confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research may change the result. Low strength of evidence indicates low confidence that the evidence reflects the true effect, and further research is likely to change the result. Insufficient indicates that no evidence was available.

†One of these studies stratified results by gender and age (% impact on prevalence rate after 2 years for those under age 45 years = −7.4% and for those aged 45 years and older = −1.4%).

‡These studies had severe methodological flaws that limit our ability to make conclusions.

¶The strongest study methodologically showed a hazard ratio of 0.8 (95% CI: 0.71, 0.91; ) per 10,000 GRP cumulative exposure.

∧Two of the pre-/post- cross-sectional studies were methodologically stronger than the others. One study reported an odds ratio of cessation = 1.27 (95% CI: 0.77 to 2.08). The other reported a relative risk of quitting = 1.1 (95% CI: 0.98 to 1.24) per 5,000 GRPS.

§Additionally, a well-conducted time series analysis reported a decrease in percentage point prevalence two months later of −0.00077 per 1 GRP per month increase (). This is the equivalent of each person viewing an average of 4 ads per month to achieve a 0.30 percentage point decline in smoking prevalence.

CI: confidence intervals; GRP: gross rating point; PPE: price participation elasticity; RCT: randomized controlled trial.

Figure 1: Summary of the literature search (number of articles).

3.2. Increasing Taxes on Tobacco Products

We found high strength of evidence to quantify the impact of increases in tobacco pricing. The PPEs ranged from −1.41 to −0.10 (interpreted as a 1–14% decrease in smoking prevalence for every 10% increase in price) among youths and −0.45 to 0.10 among adults. The larger PPE for youths is consistent with prior evidence that young people are more price sensitive due to lower levels of disposable income.

3.2.1. Youths

Five [7–11], one [12], and nine studies [13–21] evaluated the impact of increased taxes on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence among youths, respectively (Table 3). All but four [8, 15, 16, 19] were conducted in the US. One study was conducted among youths in 17 low- and middle-income countries [15]. Of the five studies examining smoking initiation, four found a statistically significant negative association with increasing taxes/prices (PPE for initiation ranged from −0.65 to −0.09) [7–10], while the other did not (PPE for initiation, −0.003) [11]. All nine studies evaluating youth smoking prevalence found a significant negative effect of taxes/prices, at least among a subset of their samples [13–21]. The study conducted among low- and middle-income countries reported a PPE for local brands of −0.74 and a PPE for foreign brands of −1.09 [15]. The study examining smoking cessation found a price elasticity of cessation of 1.15 among males and 1.17 among females [12].

Table 3: Effects of taxation/price on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence.

Author, year
Country

(data source)
Study design
Dates of data collection
Population (n)
Intervention (currency)
Smoking measure
Effect on smoking initiation, cessation, or prevalence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking initiation

Nonnemaker and Farrelly, 2011 [7]
US (NLSY97)
Longitudinal
1997–2006
Youths, age 12–17 (8984);

mean age = 15

51% male
Change in real state-level taxes* (1996 US$)
Ever smoked a cigarette
Overall

OR (se): 0.88 (0.06),

Elasticity: −0.09

Males

OR (se): 0.93 (0.08),

Elasticity: −0.05

Females

OR (se): 0.81 (0.06),

Elasticity: −0.15

Sen and Wirjanto, 2010 [8]
Canada (Waterloo Smoking Prevention Project)
Longitudinal
1993–1996
Youths, grade 9 (2364)
Change in real excise and sales taxes (C$)
Smoked in past month
Elasticity: −0.5,

Tauras, 2005 [10]
US (MTF)
Longitudinal study
1976–1995
Youths, high school seniors (5,383)
Changes in real price* (1982–1984 US$)
Progression from nondaily to daily smoking
Coeff. (z-statistic): −0.46 (−2.27),

Elasticity: −0.65

Cawley et al., 2004 [9]
US (NLSY97)
Longitudinal study
1997–2000
Youths, ages 12–16 (12,282)
Changes in real price* (NR)
Smoking any positive quantity of cigarettes
Coeff. (z-statistic): −0.15 (−1.45),

Males

coeff. (z-statistic): −0.28 (−2.03),

Females

coeff. (z-statistic): −0.03 (−0.17),

DeCicca et al., 2002 [11]
US (NELS:88)
Longitudinal study
1988–1992
Youths, 8th grade (12,089)
Changes in nominal tax* (1988 US$)
Daily smoking
Coeff. (t value): −0.003 (−1.31),

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking cessation

Ross et al., 2010 [22]
US and Canada (ITC)
Longitudinal
2002–2004
Adults (1990):

mean age = 41

41% male
(1) change in real price (US$);

(2) change in province-level cigarette tax (US$)
Quit smoking
(1) coeff. (se): 0.0064 (0.0038),

(2) coeff. (se): 0.0036 (0.0046)

Saenz-de-Miera et al., 2010 [23]
Mexico (ITC-Mexico)
Longitudinal
2006-2007
Adults, age 18+ (728):

mean age = 39

61% male
SPST tax increased from 110% of price to retailers to 140% in 2007
Quit smoking for at least 30 days
Quit rate: 13.1% (95% CI, 9.7 to 16.5%)

Hanewinkel and Isensee, 2007 [24]
Germany (NA)
Longitudinal study
01/2002–09/2005
Adults, age 14+;

mean age 46.5
Before and after each of 5 tax increases (Euros)
Quit rates 1–4 months after tax increase
Quit rates ranged from 4% to 7.9%; OR = 1.58,

Tauras and Chaloupka, 1999 [12]
US (MTF)
Longitudinal study
NR
Youths, high school seniors
Changes in real price* (1982–1984 US$)
30-day abstinence
Males

Coeff.: 0.746; ;

Price elasticity: 1.15;

Females

Coeff.: 0.742; ;

Elasticity: 1.17

Franz, 2008 [25]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1993–2000
Adults, age 18+
Changes in real price* (1995 US$)
Quit daily smoking within previous year
Baseline: 13.8%;

Final: 14.3%;

Coeff.: 0.023,

Elasticity: 0.375

Reed et al., 2008 [26]
US (CTS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1995–1999
Adults, age 25+
Before and after Proposition 10 and MSA, which raised price by US$ 0.95 (NA)
Quit smoking entirely within previous year
OR = 1.04;

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence among youth

Grossman, 2005 [13]
US (MTF)
Time series
1975–2003
Youths, high school seniors
Changes in real price* (1975 US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Coeff. (t-statistic): −0.12 (−5.23);

Tauras and Chaloupka, 1999 [14]
US (MTF)
Longitudinal study
1976–1993
Youths, high school seniors
Changes in real price* (1982–1984 US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Coeff (t-ratio): −0.03 (−2.38);

Elasticity: −0.10

Kostova et al., 2011 [15]
17 LMIC (GYTS)
Before/after w/comparison
1999–2006
Youths, age 13–15
Change in real price (2000 US$)
Smoked in the past month
Elasticity for local brands: −0.74

Elasticity for foreign brands: −1.09

White et al., 2011 [16]
Australia (cross-sectional surveys of secondary schools)
Before/after w/comparison
1990–2005
Youths, age 12-17
Change in state-specific cigarette prices (2005 AU$)
Smoked in the past month
aOR = 0.98 (95% CI: 0.97; 0.99) (1 cent increase in change in price per stick)

Carpenter and Cook, 2008 [17]
US (YRBS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–2005
Youths, grades 9–12
Changes in real price* (2005 US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Coeff. (se): −0.286 (0.101);

Elasticity: −0.56

Ding, 2003 [18]
US (MTF)
Before/after w/o comparison
1976–1998
Youths, high school seniors
Changes in real price* (US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Elasticity (se): −1.41 (0.83);

Males

Elasticity (se): 0.29 (1.03),

Females

elasticity (se): −2.98 (0.69);

Waller et al., 2003 [19]
Canada (OSDUS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1977–2001
Youths, grades 7, 9, 11, and 13
Before and after a decrease of C$10 in taxes (C$)
Smoked > 1 cigarette in past 12 months
Overall results for smoking prevalence showed a significant discontinuity effect with a negative slope until 1993 and upward jump at the discontinuity point and leveling off after 1993

Gruber, 2000 [20]
US (MTF)
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–1997
Youths, grades 8, 10 and 12
Changes in real price* (1982 US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Coeff. (se): −0.955 (0.034);

Elasticity: −0.31

8th and 10th graders

Coeff. (se): −0.03 (0.035);

Elasticity: −0.21

12th graders

Coeff. (se): −0.148 (0.078);

Elasticity: −0.67

Chaloupka and Pacula, 1998 [21]
US (MTF)
Before/after w/o comparison
1975–1994
Youths, grades 8, 10 and 12;

mean age = 16.3
Changes in real price* (1982–1984 US$)
Smoked in past 30 days
Coeff. (t-ratio): −0.004 (−2.62);

Elasticity: −0.62

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence among adults

Wakefield et al., 2008 [27]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Time series
1995–2006
Adults, age 18+
Cigarette costliness‡ (NR)
Smoke factory-made cigarettes
Coeff. (se): −8.802 (2.891);

Azagba and Sharaf, 2011 [28]
Canada (National Population Health Survey)
Longitudinal
1999–2009
Adults, ages 12–65 (56,770)

mean age = 38

50% male
Changes in real tax (2000 C$)
Daily and occasional smokers
Elasticity: −0.23

Males

elasticity: −0.32;

Females

elasticity: −0.12;

Lance et al., 2004 [29]
China (CHNS); Russia (RLMS)
Longitudinal study
China: 1993–1997; Russia: 1996–2000
Adults, age 13+;

100% male
Change in nominal price (China: yuan; Russia: ruble)
NR
China

coeff. (se): −0.123 (0.165);

Elasticity = −0.045

Russia

coeff. (se): −0.011 (0.003);

Elasticity = −0.101

Bogdanovica et al., 2011 [38]
European Union (Euro-barometer Surveys)
Before/after w/o comparison
2006–2009
Adults, age 15+
Change in cigarette affordability
Smoking prevalence
Correlation: −0.06;

Siahpush et al., 2009 [30]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–2006
Adults, age 18+;

ages 18–29: 21%;

ages 30–49: 41%;

ages 50+: 38%;

48% male
Changes in real price‡ (2006 AU$)
Do you now smoke factory-made cigarettes? In the last month, have you smoked any roll-your-own cigarettes?
aRR (95% CI) = 0.974 (0.951 to 0.997)

Price × income

Price × medium income: 1.024 (1.015 to 1.023)

Price × high income: 1.025 (1.016 to 1.035)

Gospodinov and Irvine, 2009 [144]
Canada (CTUMS)
Before/after w/o comparison
2000–2005
Adults, age 20+
Changes in real price, based on Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management system (2001 C$)
Occasional or daily smoker
Coeff.: −0.0008 (se = 0.0006);

Elasticity: −0.299 (se = 0.224) (95% CI: 0.133–−0.760)

DeCicca and McLeod, 2008 [31]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
2000–2005
Adults, aged 45–65
Several state cigarette tax increases* (2001 US$)
Daily smoker
Daily smoking

Coeff.: −0.0098 (se = 0.0036);

Elasticity: −0.21:

smoked on some days

Coeff.: −0.0110 (se = 0.0032);

Elasticity: −0.20

Jimenez-Ruiz et al., 2008 [39]
Mexico (ENIGH)
Before/after w/o comparison
1994–2005
Adults, age 15+
Until 1999, 40% for filter and 15% for unfiltered; in 2005, 45.5% for both filtered and unfiltered (NR)
Household spent money on cigarettes
Coeff. (t-statistic): −0.0019 (1.77);

Elasticity = −0.06

Franz, 2008 [25]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1993–2000
Adults, age 18+
Changes in real price* (1995 US$)
Current smoker and smoked more than 100 cigarettes
Baseline: 22.2%

Final: 17.9%

Coeff.: −0.016;

Elasticity = −0.193

Franks et al., 2007 [32]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1984–2004
Adults, age 18+
Changes in real price* (2004 US$)
Current smoker
1984–1996, lowest income quartile

Elasticity: −0.45 (−0.67–−0.22);

1984–1996, other income quartiles

Elasticity: −0.22 (−0.35–−0.10),

1997–2004, lowest income quartile

Elasticity: −0.14 (−0.36–0.08)

1997–2004, other income quartiles

Elasticity: −0.07 (−0.18–0.05)

Sloan and Trogdon, 2004 [33]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1990–2002
Adults, age 18+;

35–46% male
Changes in real price* (2002 US$)
Daily or some day smoker
18 to 20 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.025 (0.012);

21 to 24 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.011 (0.008);

25 to 44 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.009 (0.005);

45 to 64 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.008 (0.007);

65+ years old

Coeff. (se): −0.010 (0.004);

Gallus et al., 2003 [34]
Italy
Before/after w/o comparison
1970–2000
Adults, age 15+
Changes in real price, taxes represented 74.7% of cost in 2000 (NR)
NR
Elasticity (se): −0.30 (0.05);

Scollo et al., 2003 [35]
Australia (NTC)
Before/after w/o comparison
1997–2000
Adults, ages 18–40
Multiple changes to the taxation structure, including the end of the State franchise fees in Aug 97, a change from a weight to a stick-based system of levying excise duty in Nov 99, and the imposition of the Goods and Services Tax in Jul 00‡ (NR)
NR
Prevalence (May 1997): 29.5%

Prevalence (Nov 1998): 27.9%

Prevalence (Nov 2000): 26.7%

Change percentage from May 1997 to Nov 1998: −5.42%

Change percentage from Nov 1998 to Nov 2000: −4.30%

Arunatilake, 2002 [84]
Sri Lanka
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–2000
Age < 20: 40%;

age 20–30: 18%;

age 30–40: 13%;

age 40–50: 12%;

age 50–60: 9%;

age 60+: 8%;

100% male
Annual increases in tax, ranging from 27.6% of selling price in 1995 to 76.8% in 2000 (NR)
NR
Elasticity: 0.10,

van Walbeek, 2002 [36]
South Africa (AMPS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1993–2000
Adults, age 16+;

ages 16–24: 28%;

ages 25–34: 26%;

ages 35–49: 26%;

ages 50+: 21%;

48% male
Increases in the real price of cigarettes by 93% (1995 Rand)
Smoking prevalence is defined as the number of respondents who declare cigarette usage expressed as a percentage of the population
1993 Prevalence: 32.6%

2000 Prevalence: 27.1%

Change percentage: −16.9%

Elasticity: −0.30

Farrelly et al., 2001 [37]
US (NHIS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1976–1993
Adults, age 18+; mean age 43.9;

47% male
Changes in the real price* (1982–1984 US$)
Smoked at least 100 cigarettes during lifetime and currently smoke cigarettes every day or some days
Elasticity: −0.13

Males

elasticity: −0.03

Females

elasticity: −0.19

*Data obtained from the tax burden on tobacco.

‡Data was obtained from the Australian Retail Tobacconist.

Unless otherwise specified, elasticity is price participation elasticity (PPE, percentage change in smoking prevalence for one percentage change in price).

All odds ratios and relative risks can be interpreted as the change in outcome comparing the intervention to control group or after versus before an intervention or a unit increase in the intervention (e.g., 1$ in tax increase).

AMPS: All Media and Products Survey; aOR: adjusted odds ratio; AU$: Australian dollars; BRFSS: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; C$: Canadian dollars; CHNS: China Health and Nutrition Survey; CI: confidence interval; Coeff.: coefficient; CTS: California Tobacco Survey; CTUMS: Statistics Canada/Health Canada Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey; GYTS: Global Youth Tobacco Survey; ENIGH: National Household Income and Expenditure Survey; ITC: International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Survey; LMIC: low- and middle-income countries; MS: Master Settlement Agreement; MTF: Monitoring the Future: a Continuing Study of American Youth; NA: not applicable; NELS: 88: National Education Longitudinal Survey of 1988; NHIS: National Health Interview Surveys; NLSY97: National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 Cohort; NR: not reported; NTC: National Tobacco Campaign Evaluation respondent surveys; OR: odds ratio; OSDUS: Ontario Student Drug Use Survey; RLMS: Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey; se: standard error; SPST: special production and services tax; US: United States; US$: United States dollars; YRBS: Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

3.2.2. Adults

Six studies evaluated the impact of taxes/prices on smoking cessation among adults [12, 22–26]. Three found a statistically significant effect of taxes/price [12, 24, 25], while one found an impact only in the short term (4 months) [26]. One study found a significant association when evaluating prices, but not province-level taxes [22]. One study conducted in Mexico reported a 13% quit rate after a tax increase [23]. Twelve [25, 27–37] of 16 studies evaluating the effects of taxes/prices on adult smoking prevalence demonstrated a significant negative impact among at least a subset of their sample. Statistically significant effects of price/tax on smoking prevalence were consistently found in studies in high-income countries, such as the US [25, 31–33, 37], Australia [27, 30, 35], and Italy [34]. However, one study conducted in the European Union failed to find a correlation between cigarette affordability and smoking prevalence [38]. The results from low- and middle-income countries were more heterogeneous. Studies in South Africa and Russia found a significant decrease in smoking prevalence after a tax/price increase, with an estimated PPE of −0.30 and −0.10, respectively [29, 36]. A study in Mexico found a price elasticity of demand (i.e., the relative percentage change in demand for a 1% change in price) of −0.52, but the PPE was only −0.06 [39]. However, data on smoking participation was based on the purchasing patterns of all members of the household, meaning that an impact is only observed if all members of the household quit. A recent study in China [29] also found a relatively small PPE, which may be explained by the high level of affordability and the wide range of cigarette prices, which allows smokers to substitute a lower cost brand [40].

3.3. Banning Smoking in Public Places

We found moderate strength of evidence to quantify the impact of smoking bans. Twenty-nine studies measured the independent effect of smoking bans on initiation (2 studies), cessation (9 studies), and/or prevalence of smoking (20 studies). The strongest evidence was observed among studies of smoking prevalence, compared with studies assessing smoking initiation and cessation.

The studies that evaluated smoking initiation reported mixed results (Table 4) [41, 42].

Table 4: Effects of banning smoking in public places on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence.

Author, year
Country (data source)
Study design
Dates of data collection
Population
Intervention, n
Smoking measure
Effect on smoking initiation, cessation, or prevalence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking initiation

Hawkins et al., 2011 [41]
England, Scotland (MCS)
Longitudinal
2000–2007
Adults

mean age = 29
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1072

(f) and 632 (m)

(C) no smoking ban, 4158 (f) and 2624 (m)
Daily smoking
Initiation rates at followup, females:

(I) 6.2%

(C) 7.3%

aOR = 0.75 (95% CI: 0.58; 0.97)

Initiation rates at followup, males:

(I) 3.6%

(C) 4.5%

aOR = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.48; 1.37)

Klein, 2008 [42]
US (MACC)
Longitudinal
2000–2006
Youths, age 12–16
(I) complete ban in restaurants and/or bars

(C) smoking areas designated or not restricted
Ever smoked at least a whole cigarette
aOR = 1.08 (95% CI: 1.00;, 1.16)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking cessation

Hawkins et al., 2011 [41]
England, Scotland (MCS)
Longitudinal
2000–2007
Adults

Mean age = 29
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1072

(f) and 632 (m)

(C) no smoking ban, 4158 (f) and 2624 (m)
Not smoking any cigarettes
Quit rates within 1 year after ban, females:

(I) 16.0%

(C) 24.0%

aOR = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.47; 0.89)

Quit rates within 1 year after ban, males:

(I) 20.5%

(C) 28.8%

aOR = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.46; 0.93)

Biener et al., 2010 [43]
US (UMass Tobacco Study)
Longitudinal
2001–2006
Adults, age 18+,

Age 18–30: 25%

Age 31–59: 65%

Age 60+: 10%–46% male
(I) change in town’s workplace or restaurant smoking ban, 1162

(C) no change, 1473
3-month abstinence
Quit rates within 2 years after ban:

(I) 13.1%

(C) 13.8%

aOR = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.69; 1.31)

Hyland et al., 2009 [44]
UK (ITC)
Longitudinal
2006-2007
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, in Scotland, 507

(C) other parts of UK, 828
Smoked at least once/month and smoked at least 100 cigarettes lifetime
Quit rates 1 year after intervention:

(I) 19% (95% CI: 9.8; 29%)

(C) 21% (95% CI: 14; 28%)

aOR = 0.91 (95% CI: 0.47; 1.7)

De Chaisemartin et al., 2011 [50]
France (Consultation Dependance Tabagique)
Longitudinal
2004–2008
Adults
(I) complete ban in workplaces, 5963
Smoked 0 cigarettes/day and all expired CO measures <9 ppm
Mean difference in quit rates between employed and unemployed: 7.0%

Bauza-Amengual et al., 2010 [45]
Spain (original data collection)
Longitudinal
2006-2007
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars††
Quit smoking (self-reported)
Quit rates 1 month after ban: 9.5%

Quit rates 6 months after ban: 13.8%

Murphy et al., 2010 [46]
US (original data collection)
Longitudinal
2002–2005
Adults, age 18+,

20% male,

mean age = 37 years
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 237
Quit smoking
Quit rate 2 years after ban: 14%

Orbell et al., 2009 [47]
England (original data collection)
Longitudinal
2007
Adults, age 18+,

57% male,

Mean age = 36 years
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 84
Quit smoking
Quit rates 3 months after ban: 15.5%

Martinez-Sanchez et al., 2009 [48]
Spain (original data collection)
Longitudinal
2005-2006
Adults
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars††, 118
Daily or occasional smokers with salivary cotinine concentration ≤35 ng/mL per cigarette smoked
Quit rate 1 year after ban: 5.1%

Fowkes et al., 2008 [49]
Scotland (AAA Trial)
Longitudinal
1998–2007
Adults, age 50–75

33% male

mean age = 60.9
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1141
Self-reported; must have quit for at least 3 months
Change in smoking cessation pattern during 2006, with increase in quit rates (5.1%) in 3-month period prior to ban

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence

Mackay et al., 2011 [57]
Scotland (Scottish Household Survey)
Time series
1999–2010
NR
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars
Current smoker
Coeff. for 3–6 mos prior to law: −1.70 (95% CI: −2.38, −1.02),

Coeff. for 9 mos after law: −0.08 (95% CI: −0.39, 0.22);

Wakefield et al., 2008 [27]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Time series
1995–2006
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, restaurants only
Smoke factory-made cigarettes
Coeff. (se): −0.0104 (0.0103);

Anger et al., 2011 [63]
Germany (SOEP)
Longitudinal
2002–2008
Adults,

mean age = 47

47% male
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars
Current smoker
Coeff.: −0.004 (se: 0.008);

Hawkins et al., 2011 [41]
England; Scotland (MCS)
Longitudinal
2000–2007
Adults,

mean age = 29
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1522

(f) and 904 (m);

(C) no smoking ban, 5954 (f) and 3757 (m)
Daily smoking
Smoking prevalence at baseline, females:

(I) 31.0%

(C) 29.8%

Smoking prevalence at followup, females:

(I) 30.3%

(C) 27.7%

aOR = 1.15 (95% CI: 0.95; 1.40)

Smoking prevalence at baseline, males:

(I) 31.5%

(C) 29.5%

Smoking prevalence at followup, males:

(I) 27.5%

(C) 24.2%

aOR = 1.24 (95% CI: 0.95; 1.61)

Mullally et al., 2009 [58]
Ireland (All-Ireland Bar Study)
Longitudinal
2004-2005
Adults, age 18+

71% male

Mean age = 33
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars
Combined self report and cotinine measures
Smoking prevalence prior to law: 56.1%

Smoking prevalence 1 year after law: 51.4%;

Klein et al., 2009 [54]
US (MACC)
Longitudinal
2000–2006
Youths, age 12–16

49% male
(I) complete ban in restaurants and/or bars, 1028;

(C) smoking areas designated or not restricted, 3205
Smoked in the past month
aOR = 1.06 (95% CI: 0.93; 1.21)

Bitler et al., 2011 [65]
US (TUS-CPS)
Before/after w/comparison
1992–2007
Adults, age 18+
Strength of state smoking bans in bars§
Daily or someday smoker
OR = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.64 to 0.94)

White et al., 2011 [16]
Australia (cross-sectional surveys of secondary schools)
Before/after w/comparison
1990–2005
Youths, age 12–17
Scoring system based on the extent to which policies have been adopted
Smoked in the past month
aOR = 0.93 (95% CI: 0.92; 0.94)

Hahn et al., 2010 [51]
US
Before/after w/comparison
2004–2008
Youths, age 18–24

31–39% male
(I) complete smoking ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 897*, 469**

(C) delayed smoking ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 703*, 701**
Smoked in past 30-days
Smoking prevalence (I)

before ban: 28.0%;

3.5 years after ban: 19.4%;

Smoking prevalence (C)

before ban: 21.5%;

8 months after ban: 16.9%;

Bitler et al., 2010 [66]
US (TUS-CPS)
Before/after w/comparison
1992–2007
Adults, age 18+
Venue-specific Impact Teen ratings
Smoked at least some days
Coeff. for private workplace SCIAL among private sector workers: 0.001 (se: 0.003);

Coeff. for government workplace SCIAL among government workers: 0.011 (se: 0.009);

Coeff. for public school SCIAL among school workers: −0.001 (se: 0.003);

Coeff. for private school SCIAL among school workers: −0.004 (se: 0.004);

Coeff. for restaurant SCIAL among all workers at eating/drinking places: 0.013 (se: 0.014);

Coeff. for bar SCIAL among bartenders: −0.058 (se: 0.021);

Hahn et al., 2008 [52]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/comparison
2001–2005
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 579* and 281**

(C) no smoke-free laws, 6560* and 2993**
Daily or some day smoker and smoked at least 100 cigarettes lifetime
Smoking prevalence 40 months prior to law:

(I) 25.7% (95% CI: 21.2, 30.1%)

(C) 28.4% (95% CI: 26.8, 30.0)

Smoking prevalence 20 months after law:

(I) 17.5% (11.8, 23.1)

(C) 27.6% (25.2, 30.0)

aOR = 0.84 (0.72, 0.97)

Lemstra et al., 2008 [53]
Canada (Canadian Community Health Survey)
Before/after w/comparison
2003–2005
Adults
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1301* and 1244**

(C1) Saskatchewan

(C2) Canada
NR
Baseline smoking prevalence:

(I) 24.1% (95% CI: 20.4, 27.7)

(C1) 23.8 (22.6, 25.3)

(C2) 22.9 (22.5, 23.3)

Smoking prevalence 1 year after law:

(I) 18.2% (15.7, 20.9)

(C1) 23.8

(C2) 21.3 (20.8, 21.8)

Lee et al., 2011 [61]
England (Health Survey for England)
Before/after w/o comparison
2003–2008
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars
Current smoker
aOR = 1.02 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.11)

Guerrero et al., 2011 [56]
Spain (National Health Survey for Spain)
Before/after w/o comparison
1993–2009
Adults, age 16–65
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars††
Smoked at least 100 cigarettes lifetime
Smoking prevalence in 1993: 36.18%

Smoking prevalence in 2003: 30.97%

Smoking prevalence in 2006 (<1 yr after ban): 29.50%

Smoking prevalence in 2009 (3 yrs after ban): 31.47%

Verdonk-Kleinjan et al., 2011 [64]
The Netherlands (Continuous Survey of Smoking Habits)
Before/after w/o comparison
2003-2004
Adults, age 16–65
(I) complete ban in workplaces, 601
Daily smoking
Smoking prevalence prior to ban: 27.5%

Smoking prevalence 1 month after ban: 25.5%

OR = 0.87 (95% CI: 0.70; 1.08)

Mullally et al.,

2009 [58]
Ireland (survey commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control)
Before/after w/o comparison
2004-2005
Adults, age 18+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars
Smoked more than 1 cigarette per week
Smoking prevalence prior to law: 28.3%

Smoking prevalence 1 year after law: 24.8%;

Elton and Campbell, 2008 [62]
England (original data collection)
Before/after w/o comparison
2007
Adults, age 18+,

age 18–24: 7%

age 25–34: 12%

age 35–44: 16%

age 45–54: 18%

age 55–64: 20%

age 65–74: 14%

age 75+: 13%

45% male
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 2054* and 1938**
Currently smoke
Baseline smoking prevalence: 22.4%

Smoking prevalence 3 months after law: 22.6%

Haw and Gruer, 2007 [60]
Scotland (original data collection)
Before/after w/o comparison
2005–2007
Adults, age 16–74
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars, 1815* and 1834**
Self-reported
Baseline smoking prevalence: 35.6%

Smoking prevalence after law: 35.1%

Galan et al., 2007 [59]
Spain
Before/after w/o comparison
2005-2006
Adults, age 18–64,

Age 18–29: 26%

Age 30–44: 40%

Age 45–64: 33%

48% male
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars††, 1750* and 1252**
Self-reported
Baseline smoking prevalence: 31.7%

Smoking prevalence after law: 32.7%

Gallus et al., 2006 [55]
Italy (DOXA)
Before/after w/o comparison
2004-2005
Adults, age 15+
(I) complete ban, including restaurants and/or bars†
NR
Baseline smoking prevalence:

(I) 26.2%

Smoking prevalence 3 months after laws:

(I) 25.6%

Sloan and Trogdon, 2004 [33]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1990–2002
Adults, age 18+;

35–46% male
Categorical variables based on number and type of public places where smoking is banned: none, nominal, basic, moderate, and extensive‡, 1,762,686
Daily or some day smoker
Nominal‡‡: 0.011, 0.001, −0.001, −0.004, and 0.006

Basic‡‡: 0.032, −0.047, 0.009, 0.013, and 0.005

Moderate‡‡: 0.030, −0.015, 0.017, 0.015, and 0.008

Extensive‡‡: 0.013, −0.011, 0.004, −0.005, and −0.007

*Prelaw sample size.

**Postlaw sample size.

†Exceptions were made to the smoking ban for restaurants with separate and regulated smoking areas.

††There was a partial ban on smoking in restaurants and bars. Establishments of less than 100 square meters were able to decide whether or not to permit smoking. Establishments of more than 100 square meters could provide a separate smoking area with a separate ventilation system that was no larger than 30% of the total area of the premises.

‡Based on data from the State Legislated Actions on Tobacco Issues, 2002.

‡‡Results reported by age group: 18 to 20 years, 21 to 24 years, 25 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65 years and older.

§Based on data from Robert Wood Johnson’s ImpacTeen database.

AAA: Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis; aOR: adjusted odds ratio; BRFSS: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey; C: control; CI: confidence interval; CIA: clean indoor air; CO: carbon monoxide; f: females; I: intervention; ITC: International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project; m: males; MACC: Minnesota Adolescent Community Cohort; MCS: Millennium Cohort Study; NR: not reported; ppm: parts per million; SOEP: Socio-Economic Panel Study; TUS-CPS: Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey; UK: United Kingdom; US: United States.

Of the nine studies that evaluated smoking cessation, three had a concurrent comparison group [41, 43, 44]. Two studies found no significant association between the smoking ban and cessation rates (adjusted odds ratios ranging from 0.91 to 0.95) [43, 44], while the other found a significantly lower cessation rate (adjusted odds ratios ranging from 0.65 to 0.66) [41]. The other studies lacked a comparison group, making it difficult to draw conclusions. Four studies reported quit rates ranging from 5% to 15% [45–48], another reported a 5.1% increase in the quit rate in the 3-month period prior to the ban [49], and the other reported a 7.0% absolute difference in quit rates between those employed and those unemployed [50].

The effectiveness of a smoking ban likely depends on the comprehensiveness of legislation, level of enforcement, public support, and degree of prior legislation in place. Three studies evaluating a new, local, and comprehensive smoking ban reported the strongest effects on smoking prevalence [51–53]. In Saskatoon, Canada, smoking prevalence dropped from 24.1% to 18.2% one year after the ban [53]. In Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, smoking prevalence declined from 25.7% to 17.5% 20 months after the ban [52]. Another study conducted among college students in two different counties in Kentucky (Lexington-Fayette county and Louisville Metro) reported significant decreases in smoking prevalence 3.5 years () and 8 months after their respective smoking bans [51]. However, a cohort study in Minnesota found no significant impact on smoking prevalence [54].

Studies conducted at the national level, where tobacco control activities have been ongoing tended to find less dramatic changes in smoking prevalence. For example, an Italian pre-/post- study without a comparison group found a significant decline in smoking prevalence among men (−8.5%, ) and younger Italians (−7.4%, ) following the introduction of a complete smoking ban [55]. In Spain, a study found a lower than expected smoking prevalence 1 year after the implementation of a partial smoking ban, but smoking prevalence returned to normal 3 years after the ban [56]. Similarly, a time series analysis in Scotland found a significant reduction in smoking prevalence 3–6 months before the law (which may have been influenced by the media coverage preceding the ban), but no significant change 9 months after the law [57]. In Ireland, two studies (reported in the same publication [58]) found a nonsignificantly lower smoking prevalence 1 year after implementation of a complete smoking ban among bartenders and the general public. Other studies conducted in Spain [59], Scotland [41, 60], England [61, 62], Germany [63], and The Netherlands (a partial smoking ban exempting the hospitality industry) [64] found no significant impact of a smoking ban on smoking prevalence. Wakefield et al. found no significant impact of an incremental increase in the population covered by smoke-free restaurant-specific laws on monthly smoking prevalence in Australia [27]. However, another study conducted in Australia among youths 12–17 years old found a lower smoking prevalence with stronger smoking bans (adjusted odds ratio, 0.93; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92–0.94) [16]. Two US studies evaluated the effects of venue-specific smoking bans among workers most affected by those laws [65, 66]. Both studies found a decreased smoking prevalence among bartenders after smoking bans in bars, but no change in other workers [66]. Another study conducted in the US-categorized state smoking bans by the number and type of restrictions and reported their results stratified by age group [33]. State smoking bans were largely insignificant, but this is probably due to the small number of changes in state smoking bans during the period of their analysis.

3.4. Banning Advertising and Sponsorship of Tobacco Products

We found insufficient evidence to estimate the impact of implementation of advertising bans or restrictions. We did not identify any studies measuring smoking initiation or cessation as the outcome. Five studies examined prevalence (three among youths and two among adults), comparing rates of smoking before and after implementing advertising bans or restrictions (Table 5). Two of the youth studies showed declines in smoking prevalence; however, inferences regarding the independent effect of advertising bans were limited by the lack of a control group and long time frame between baseline and followup [67, 68]. The other youth study, conducted in Australia, showed an increased smoking prevalence with stronger point-of-purchase and outdoor advertising bans, after adjusting for demographics and other tobacco control policies (adjusted odds ratio: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01; 1.05) [16].

Table 5: Effects of advertising and sponsorship of tobacco products on smoking prevalence.

Author, year
Country

(Data source)
Study design
Dates of data collection
Population
Intervention, n
Smoking measure
Effect on smoking prevalence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence

White et al., 2011 [16]
Australia (cross-sectional surveys of secondary schools)
Before/after w/comparison
1990–2005
Youths, age 12–17
Scoring system based on the extent to which policies have been adopted
Smoked in the past month
aOR: 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01; 1.05)

Sloan and Trogdon, 2004 [33]
US (BRFSS)
Before/after w/o comparison
1990–2002
Adults, age 18+;

35–46% male
Any advertising restrictions*, 1,762,686
Daily or some day smoker
18 to 20 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.016 (0.012);

21 to 24 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.017 (0.010);

25 to 44 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.005 (0.007);

45 to 64 years old

Coeff. (se): −0.004 (0.006);

65+ year olds

Coeff. (se): −0.006 (0.006);

Galduróz et al., 2007 [67]
Brazil (original data collection)
Before/after w/o comparison
1997–2004
Youths, age 11–18;

42% male
Advertising ban on the following media: billboard, print, radio, sponsorship, sporting or cultural activity, TV, 15,501† and 21,172‡
Lifetime use of tobacco
Baseline prevalence: 32.7%

Smoking prevalence 4 years after ad ban: 25.0%

Fielding et al., 2004 [68]
Hong Kong (original data collection)
Before/after w/o comparison
1990–2001
Youths, aged 8–10
Advertising ban on the following media: broadcast media (1990), billboards, print (1999), 824
Ever smoked
Baseline prevalence: 7.8%

Follow-up smoking prevalence: 3.8%

Siahpush et al., 2009 [30]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–2006
Adults, age 18+;

ages 18–29: 21%;

ages 30–49: 41%;

ages 50+: 38%;

48% male
National ban on tobacco sponsorship, bringing 2 remaining states into line with the 3 states that had already banned tobacco sponsorship at the state level (December, 1995), 515,866
Do you now smoke factory-made cigarettes? In the last month, have you smoked any roll-your-own cigarettes?
aRR = 1.00,

*Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s State Tobacco Activities Tracking and Evaluation (STATE) System.

†Preban sample size.

‡Postban sample size.

aRR: adjusted rate ratio; aOR: adjusted odds ratio; BRFSS: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey; CI: confidence interval; coeff.: coefficient; se: standard error.

Other factors influencing findings included the comprehensiveness of the ban, the level of enforcement, and industry response of shifting to indirect means of marketing. One study evaluated price and smoking prevalence in the five largest capital cities in Australia, while adjusting for a tobacco sponsorship ban that “brought two remaining states into line with the three states that had already banned tobacco sponsorship.” The authors found no association between the incremental increase in coverage of the ban and prevalence, but noted that after the ban, tobacco companies shifted resources to other outlets (e.g., point of sale) [30]. One US study found that the presence of any advertising restriction at the state level was associated with a nonstatistically significant reduction in smoking prevalence [33].

3.5. Health Warning Labels

We found insufficient evidence to quantify the direct impact of health warning labels on smoking prevalence. No studies examined smoking initiation. Only four studies measured smoking prevalence or cessation, and they were typically not the primary endpoints under study (Table 6).

Table 6: Effects of health warning labels on smoking cessation and prevalence.

Author, year
Country

(data source)
Study design
Dates of data collection
Population
Intervention, n
Smoking measure
Effect on smoking cessation, or prevalence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking cessation

Borland et al., 2009 [70]
Australia, Canada, UK, and US (ITC)
Longitudinal
2002–2006
Adults, age 18+
Australia

(B) 6 rotating, text labels, 25% of front, 33% of back;

(I) 14 rotating, graphic labels, 30% of front, 90% of back*, 2305;

Canada

(B) 16 rotating, graphic labels, 50% of pack, 2214;

UK

(B) 6 rotating, text labels, 6% of front;

(I-1) 16 rotating, text labels, 30% of front, 40% of back;

(I-2) banned use of “light”, “mild”, 2401;

US

(B) 4 rotating, text labels on side, 2138
Made a quit attempt lasting more than 24 hours since previous survey, and among those who did, whether quit attempt lasted at least 1 month
Australia

F1 quit rate: 14.99%

F2 quit rate: 22.93%

F3 quit rate: 25.15%

F4 quit rate: 25.90%

Canada

F1 quit rate: 19.84%

F2 quit rate: 23.96%

F3 quit rate: 22.81%

F4 quit rate: 21.34%

United Kingdom

F1 quit rate: 16.83%

F2 quit rate: 22.68%

F3 quit rate: 28.93%

F4 quit rate: 23.94%

United States

F1 quit rate: 14.42%

F2 quit rate: 19.23%

F3 quit rate: 20.31%

F4 quit rate: 20.36%

Borland, 1997 [69]
Australia (original data collection)
Longitudinal
1994-1995
Adults, age 16+; 51% male
(B) 4 rotating, text-only labels covering 15% of front and back of package, 510;

(I) 6 rotating, text-only labels covering 25% of front and 33% of back of package, 243
Quit smoking at followup for at least 1 week
Quit rate: 11%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence

Siahpush et al., 2009 [30]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Before/after w/o comparison
1991–2006
Adults, age 18+; ages 18–29: 21%;

ages 30–49: 41%;

ages 50+: 38%;

48% male
(I) 6 rotating, text-only labels covering 25% of front and 33% of back of package, 515,866
Do you now smoke factory-made cigarettes? In the last month, have you smoked any roll-your-own cigarettes?
aRR = 1.00;

Gospodinov and Irvine, 2004 [71]
Canada (CTUMS)
Before/after w/o comparison
2000-2001
Adults, age 15+;

46% male
(B) text only, 9729;

(I) 16 rotating, graphic labels, 50% of pack, 10447
Current cigarette smoking
Smoking prevalence:

(B) 25.0%

(I) 23.4%

Marginal effect prevalence rate ratio: −0.0034 (95% CI: −0.029, 0.021; se = 0.01)

*Health warning label also included the quitline phone number.

aRR: adjusted rate ratio; B: baseline; CI: confidence interval; CTUMS: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Surveys; F: followup period; I: intervention; ITC: International Tobacco Control Policy Research Survey; se: standard error; UK: United Kingdom; US: United States.

The limited number of studies is likely due to the fact that health warning labels are implemented at the country-level, and there have been only a limited number of countries introducing new or modified warning labels. In Australia, increasing the text size from 15% to 25% of pack area was associated with a quit rate of 11%, but without a control group it is not possible to determine the net impact [69]. In addition to study design, heterogeneity could be expected as a result of differences in size, content, and design (e.g., text versus pictorial). Borland et al., using data from the International Tobacco Control Policy project, studied the effects of warning labels across four countries over four waves of data collection. Over this time period, the health warning labels on cigarette packs changed in UK (increasing text size and banning misleading product descriptors) and Australia (adding graphic images). However, the timing of these changes relative to data collection did not allow for direct comparisons of cessation behavior before and after implementation [70].

Two other studies evaluated the effects of health warning labels on smoking prevalence [30, 71]. One study reported on the effects of the introduction of 6 rotating text warnings in Australia [30], while the other reported on rotating pictorial health warning labels that covered 50% of the package in Canada [71]. Neither study reported a significant decrease in smoking prevalence.

3.6. Mass Media Campaigns

We found moderate strength of evidence to quantify the independent impact of mass media campaigns. Five, eight, and eight studies examined the independent effects of a mass media campaign on initiation, cessation, and prevalence, respectively (Table 7). The findings for youths were more consistent than adults, with most studies reporting a reduction of 20% to 40% in the odds of smoking initiation [72–75].

Table 7: Effects of antitobacco mass media campaigns on smoking initiation, cessation, and prevalence.

Author, year
Country

(Data source)
Study design
Dates of data collection
Population
Intervention, n
Smoking measure
Effect on smoking initiation, cessation or prevalence

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking initiation

Bauman et al., 1991 [145]
US (original data)
Cluster RCT
1985–1987
Youths, ages 12–14
(I) 8 30-second radio messages focused on 7 expected consequences of smoking broadcasted over 3 1-month periods;

(C) no mass media campaign*, 951 total nonsmokers at baseline
Ever puffed a cigarette
Among nonsmokers at baseline, differences relative to comparison group at 11–17 months after broadcasts ended

(i) Smoking experimentation: 1% (P = NS)

(ii) Regular smoking: 2% (P = NS)

(iii) Recent smoking: 1% (P = NS)

Farrelly et al., 2009 [75]
US (NLSY97)
Longitudinal study
1997–2004
Youths, ages 12–17
(I) TV campaign with cumulative exposure between 2000–2004 of 3096–32137 GRPs across 210 media markets, 8904
Ever smoked a cigarette
HR = 0.8 (95% CI: 0.71–0.91; ) (per 10,000 GRP cumulative exposure)

Linkenbach and Perkins, 2003 [72]
US (original data)
Longitudinal study
2000–2001
Youths, junior and senior high school students;

mean age = 14.6;

50% male
(I) 1500 GRPs (broadcast TV); 78,000 print and promotional items distributed in schools; 4 theater slides were run over 1 month at 2 movie theaters; 1 billboard design appeared in 4 locations for 1 month, 299;

(C) control, 314
Having tried cigarette smoking
12-month follow-up smoking prevalence:

(I) 10%

(C) 17%

Relative measure: 41% lower rate of initiation in intervention group ()

Flynn et al., 1997 [73]
US (original data)
Longitudinal study
1985–1991
Youths, grades 4–6
(I) 540 TV and 350 radio broadcasts per year for 4 years plus school intervention;

(C) school intervention
Smoked >0 cigarettes in past week
4-year follow-up smoking prevalence:

(I) 7.5%

(C) 13.0%

6-year followup smoking prevalence:

(I) 15.9%

(C) 20.2%

OR = 0.73

Hafstad et al., 1997 [74]
Norway (original data)
Longitudinal study
1992–1995
Youths, ages 14-15
(I) 3 annual campaigns of 1 TV and cinema ad 167 times, 3 full-page ads in 5 newspapers, 1 poster in each location run for 3 weeks;

(C) control county
Weekly smoking
Males

1-year initiation rate

(I) 10.2%

(C) 14.5%

(95% CI: 0.53; 0.85)

Females

1-year initiation rate

(I) 14.6%

(C) 25.6%

(95% CI: 0.63; 0.95)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking cessation

Solomon et al., 2009 [80]
US (original data)
Cluster RCT
2001–2004
Youths, grades 7–10;

45% male
(I) radio and TV campaign with 380 GRPs/week over 9 months each year for 3 years, 531;

(C) no intervention, 601
Not smoking one cigarette in past 30 days
12-month quit rate

(I) 18.1%

(C) 14.8%

24-month quit rate

(I) 14.5%

(C) 12.6%

36-month quit rate

(I) 16.0%

(C) 12.8%

Relative measure: no significant time trend or interaction between condition and time

Terry-McElrath et al., 2011 [81]
US (MTF)
Longitudinal
2001–2008
Adults, age 20–30
24-month sum of antitobacco TV advertising measured in GRPs, 7997
Smoked 0 cigarettes/day in past 30 days
<52 GRPS (ref)

52–103 GRPs

aOR: 1.15 (95% CI: 0.91; 1.45)

104–155 GRPs

aOR: 1.40 (95% CI: 1.07; 1.83)

156–207 GRPs

aOR: 1.21 (95% CI: 0.90; 1.63)

208+ GRPs

aOR: 1.22 (95% CI: 0.90; 1.66)

Burns and Levinson, 2010 [82]
US (original data collection)
Longitudinal
2007
Adults, age 18+

41–50% male
(I) Spanish-language TV campaign with 1387.4 GRPs for 1 month, radio ads, and 1900 30-second spots on movie screens, 117

(C) non-Spanish speaking population, 193
6-month abstinence
Quit rate prior to campaign

(I) 9.6%

(C) 16.5%

Quit rate post campaign

(I) 18.8%;

(C) 8.8%;

Durkin et al., 2009 [146]
US (UMass Tobacco Study)
Longitudinal
2001–2004
Adults

mean age = 41

45% male
24-month GRPs
1-month abstinence
Quit rate, 16%

Hyland et al., 2006 [147]
US (COMMIT)
Longitudinal study
1988–2001
Adults, ages 24–64
(I) TV campaign above 1218 GRPs in 1999-2000

(C) TV campaign below 1218 GRPs in 1999-2000
NR
24-month quit rate

(I) 12.9%

(C) 11.0%

RR = 1.1 (95% CI: 0.98–1.24) (per increase in 5000 GRPs of exposure)

Ronda et al., 2004 [76]
Netherlands (original data)
Longitudinal study
1998–2001
Adults, ages 18+

39–47% male;

Mean age: 46–50 years
(I) Billboard, print, radio, TV, posters and postcards in waiting rooms and public buildings; 4 months spread over 2 years†
Not having smoking any tobacco in last 7 days
24-month quit rate

(I) 12.3%

(C) 14.3%

36-month quit rate

(I) 18.7%

(C) 18.6%

relative measure: no association between intervention and smoking outcome in regression models (not reported)

McVey and Stapleton, 2000 [148]
England (original data)
Longitudinal study
1992–1994
Adults, ages 16+

41-42% male;

Mean age: 46 years
(I) 18-month TV campaign, 1744;

(C) no intervention, 719
No smoking at all nowadays
18-month quit rate

(I) 9.7%

(C) 8.7%

OR = 1.27 (95% CI: 0.77–2.08; )

Hafstad et al., 1997 [74]
Norway (original data)
Longitudinal study
1992–1995
Youths, ages 14-15
(I) 3 annual campaigns of 1 TV and cinema ad 167 times, 3 full-page ads in 5 newspapers, 1 poster in each location run for 3 weeks, 1061;

(C) control county, 1288
Weekly smoking
Males

1-year quit rate

(I) 12.7%

(C) 19.1%

Females

1-year quit rate

(I) 25.6%

(C) 17.6%

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Smoking prevalence

Flynn et al., 2010 [83]
US (original data collection)
Cluster RCT
2001–2005
Youths, grades 7–12,

46% male
(I) 380 GRPs from TV ads per week, 215 GRPs from radio ads, 10,412;

(C) no intervention, 9544
Smoking in past 30 days
Baseline smoking prevalence

(I) 18.9%

(C) 17.8%

Smoking intervention at 4 year followup

(I) 16.9%

(C) 15.5%;

Wakefield et al., 2008 [27]
Australia (Roy Morgan Single Source)
Time series
1995–2006
Adults, age 18+
138-month TV campaign, 288.5 mean monthly GRPs, 343,835
Smoke factory-made cigarettes
Prevalence percentage point change two months later (i.e., 2 month lag) per 1 GRP per month increase:−0.00077 (95% CI: −0.00144, −0.0001; )

Hafstad et al., 1997 [74]
Norway (original data)
Longitudinal study
1992–1995
Youths, ages 14-15
(I) 3 annual campaigns of 1 TV and cinema ad 167 times, 3 full-page ads in 5 newspapers, 1 poster in each location run for 3 weeks, 2742;

(C) control county, 3438
Weekly smoking
OR = 0.74 (95% CI: 0.64; 0.86)

Males

Baseline prevalence

(I) 6.9%

(C) 9.9%

1-year prevalence

(I) 13.7%

(C) 20.4%

Females

Baseline prevalence

(I) 10.1%

(C) 11.4%

1-year prevalence

(I) 18.7%

(C) 23.8%

Flynn et al., 1995 [149]

Worden et al., 1996 [150]

Flynn et al., 1992 [151]

Flynn et al., 1994 [152]

Worden and Flynn, 2002 [153]

Flynn et al., 1997 [73]
US (original data)
Longitudinal study
1985–1991
Youths, grades 4–6;

mean age: 10.6 years,

48–54% male
(I) 540 TV and 350 radio broadcasts per year for 4 years plus school intervention;

(C) school intervention
Smoked >0 cigarettes in past week
Baseline prevalence

(I) 1%

(C) 1.6%

6-year prevalence

(I) 16.5%

(C) 24%

OR = 0.62 (95% CI: 0.49; 0.78)

Females

4-year prevalence

(I) 12.7%;

(C) 21.1%

6-year prevalence

(I) 16.5%

(C) 29.4%;

Males

4-year prevalence

(I) 9.8%;,

(C) 14.4%

6-year prevalence

(I) 13.0%

(C) 17.1%;

Steenkamp et al., 1991 [77]
South Africa (original data)
Longitudinal study
1979–1983
Adults, ages 15–64

46% male
(I) 48-month billboard, print, poster, and mailing campaign‡, 1531;

(C) control, 1308
Smoking an average of at least 1 cigarette or 1 gram of tobacco per day
Baseline prevalence

(I) 28.1%

(C) 29.5%

4-year prevalence

(I) 18.8%

(C) 19.9%

percentage Reduction

(I) −32.6%

(C) −33.3%

Net percentage change in smoking prevalence relative to control

Males: 2.0%

Females: −19.2%

Meshack et al., 2004 [154]
US (original data)
Before/after with comparison
Spring 2000–December 2000
Youths, grade 6

52% male
(I) media and community program; media programs involved TV, radio, billboard, and print; $0.50 per capita in low-intensity group; $1.00 per capita in high-intensity group, 3618
Tobacco use in past 30 days
Percent change in prevalence at 8.5 months (among groups with no community program):

High intensity: −20.8%

Low intensity: −45.3%

Comparison: −28.3%

Sly et al., 2001 [79]
US (original data)
Before/after with comparison
1998-1999
Youths, ages 12–17
(I) 12-month campaign with TV, radio, billboard, display ads, promotional items (stickers, lanyards, hats, t-shirts, etc.), 1600 GRPs per quarter, 1800;

(C) control, 1000
At least a puff or two in the past 30 days
Baseline prevalence

(I) 13.8%

(C) 12.6%

12-month prevalence

(I) 12.6%

(C) 14.1%

Percentage change

(I) −8.9%

(C) 11.9%

%

Farrelly et al., 2005 [78]
US (MTF)
Before/after w/o comparison
1997–2002
Youths, grades 8, 10, and 12
(I) 24-month TV campaign with 3867–20367 GRPs (cumulative exposure over 2-year period for the lowest and highest quintiles of exposure)
Any smoking in past 30 days
Percentage annual change in prevalence at 0–2 years prior to intervention:

Total: −3.2% (−3.8, −2.6)

8th: −3.4% (−4.6, −2.1)

10th: −4.6% (−5.6, −3.6)

12th: −1.8% (−2.7, −1.0)

Percentage annual change in prevalence at 0–2 years after intervention:

Total: −6.8% (−7.5, −6.1)

8th: −9.0% (−10.4, −7.6)

10th: −8.7% (−9.8, −7.5)

12th: −5.1% (−6.1, −3.9)

*Additionally, there were 2 other intervention groups that included sweepstakes. Since sweepstakes are not a focus of this paper, they are not included here.

†This was part of a cardiovascular disease prevention campaign.

‡This was part of a coronary risk factor campaign.

C: control group; CI: confidence interval; COMMIT: Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation; GRPs: gross rating points; HR: hazard ratio; I: intervention group; MTF: Monitoring the Future: a Continuing Study of American Youth; NLSY97: National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997; NR: not reported; NS: not significant; OR: odds ratio; RCT: randomized controlled trial; RR: relative risk; TV: television; US: United States.

In addition to study design, key sources of heterogeneity include differences in content, tone, channels, and reach of campaigns. For example, the two studies which examined a broad campaign focused on cardiovascular disease failed to find consistent evidence of impacts on smoking prevalence [76, 77]. Among US youths, large-scale campaigns focused on tobacco industry manipulation and deception were shown to be effective at reducing initiation [75, 78, 79]. Smaller studies with other types of content were also shown to be effective [72–74]. Less consistent evidence is available for smoking cessation among youths and young adults [74, 80, 81]. Two studies evaluated campaigns that targeted ethnic groups. One, which targeted Spanish-speaking smokers, reported an increased 6-month abstinence rate among those who called into the quit line [82]. The other targeted youths of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, but did not report a significant effect on smoking prevalence [83]. Among adults, a mass media campaign focused on hard-hitting, graphic messages with sustained, and high levels of exposure was shown to effectively reduce smoking prevalence. A time series analysis of a mass media campaign in Australia found that an increase in 1,000 gross rating points (a measure of advertising reach and frequency) led to a reduction in adult smoking prevalence of 0.8% within 2 months, after controlling for price [27]. The study also found that the effects dissipated rapidly, suggesting that sustained high levels of exposure are necessary to maximize reductions in smoking prevalence.

4. Discussion

The purpose of this paper was to examine and quantify the independent impact of tobacco control policies on smoking behavior, as measured by initiation, cessation, or prevalence. Although tobacco control policies are often implemented in combination, we focused on studies that attempted to separate out the independent impact of each policy to better inform models for predicting smoking patterns. We also focused on studies that measured smoking behavior before and after policy implementation, to ensure that the proper temporal relationship was met.

4.1. Increasing Taxes

We found evidence that increases in tobacco pricing independently reduced smoking prevalence among youths and adults. More limited data were available for low- and middle-income countries, with some studies finding an association with decreased smoking prevalence [29, 36] and others finding no difference [29, 39, 84]. Another review found that low- and middle-income countries tended to be more price sensitive than high-income countries [85]. Based on tobacco consumption data (from estimates of cigarette sales), they estimated a price elasticity of demand of −0.8 for low- and middle-income countries versus −0.4 for high-income countries. Many factors contribute to the heterogeneity in findings, including cigarette affordability, product substitution due to wide price ranges, industry activity to reduce price for consumers, opportunities for tax avoidance, smuggling, and smokers’ level of addiction.

4.2. Banning Smoking in Public Places

We found evidence that smoking bans can have an impact on prevalence in the general population, with greater reductions found in smaller geographic areas with limited previous legislation, compared with studies conducted at the national level. Smoking bans likely impact general population behaviour through reducing smoking opportunities and denormalizing smoking [86]. The timing of a smoking ban relative to the underlying tobacco control environment may influence its effectiveness. For example, in settings with limited tobacco control activities, the implementation of a comprehensive ban may trigger a greater shift in social norms. In other settings, implementation may represent an incremental change in the coverage of smoke-free places after years of social norm change and prevalence declines. Different impacts on smoking behaviour would be expected under these scenarios. The effectiveness of a smoking ban also depends on the strength of prior legislation, comprehensiveness of legislation, level of enforcement, and public support [87]. Public support tends to be high and increases after implementation [86].

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found sufficient or strong evidence that smoke-free workplaces reduce cigarette consumption and increase cessation rates and that smoke-free policies reduce youth tobacco use [86]. The authors also concluded that a greater decline in smoking could be expected when the policy was part of a comprehensive tobacco control program. In the present paper, we excluded studies that examined specific workplace policies on employee behavior, in order to estimate impacts across the entire population. The studies in the IARC review were all conducted in high-income countries. With the increased adoption of smoking bans in low- and middle-income countries, more evaluation is needed.

4.3. Banning Advertising and Sponsorship of Tobacco Products

We found insufficient evidence to estimate the direct impact of advertising bans or restrictions on smoking initiation, cessation, or prevalence in the general population. The youth studies suggest that advertising bans may play a role in reducing smoking; however, methodological limitations restrict inferences that can be drawn.

Despite limited direct evidence of the impact of advertising bans, the role of tobacco advertising on smoking initiation is well established [88–91]. Advertising increases positive user imagery of tobacco, distorts the utility of tobacco use, increases curiosity about tobacco use [91], and influences normative beliefs and perceptions of tobacco use prevalence [92], all predictive of future smoking experimentation. Youth exposure to tobacco marketing has been associated with a doubling of the chances of initiation [93]. Comprehensive bans are the only effective way to eliminate tobacco marketing exposure, as the tobacco industry subverts restrictions by substituting marketing channels are not covered by existing laws [94].

4.4. Health Warning Labels

We found insufficient evidence describing the direct impact of introducing or strengthening cigarette warning labels on smoking initiation, cessation, or prevalence. The few studies that were identified were not designed specifically to address the impact of warning labels on these outcomes.

Cigarette health warning labels are a means for delivering messages about health risks from smoking and resources for obtaining help to quit. Warning labels can be implemented with little cost to governments, in comparison with mass media campaigns [95, 96]. Despite the limited direct evidence, indirect evidence describes the impact of warning messages on knowledge, salience, and cognitive processing (reading, thinking about, and discussing the warning labels) and the association between these intermediate outcomes and quit intentions, quit attempts, or cessation behavior [97]. Health warnings increase knowledge of health effects [95, 98] and have been cited as a motivating factor among quitters [99]. Studies evaluating graphic, pictorial warning labels in Canada and Australia have shown high levels of cognitive processing [96, 98, 100] and an association between cognitive processing and quitting intention and behavior [70, 98, 100, 101]. In Malaysia, a country with small, text-based warnings, a cross-sectional association was observed between cognitive processing of warning labels and intention to quit and self-efficacy among male smokers [102]. These studies provide indirect evidence for a role of health warning labels in smoking behavior.

4.5. Mass Media Campaigns

We found evidence that mass media campaigns can have an independent effect on reducing initiation of smoking in youths and prevalence in adults [73–75]. Differences observed in the impact of mass media campaigns are likely due, in part, to differences in content, tone, and reach. Although it is not clear which types of messages work best, behavioral research has suggested that adult audiences are most likely to respond to graphic depictions of the health consequences of smoking, and that youth audiences are more likely to respond to messages about tobacco industry deception and manipulation [103–105]. Conversely, messages focusing on smoking as an adult choice, commonly used in tobacco industry sponsored campaigns, have been shown to be ineffective or even increase youth tobacco use [103, 104, 106]. Campaign messages need to be sufficiently funded to ensure enough exposure [103, 104], tailored to the audience, and varied and rotated to keep them salient [88, 104, 105].

Our findings are consistent with prior evidence. A recent National Cancer Institute monograph concluded that mass media campaigns, even those independent of other community-wide programs, are effective at reducing smoking prevalence [103]. Several reviews have concluded that mass media campaigns are effective in reducing youth tobacco use, specifically when combined with other tobacco control programs [104, 107]. A Cochrane review, however, concluded that tobacco control programs with mass media components can be effective in reducing adult smoking, but the evidence is based on studies of “variable quality” and the “specific contribution of the mass media component is unclear” [108].

4.6. Limitations

Our paper had several limitations. First, we only included studies that evaluated the independent impact of a policy or intervention, thereby excluding studies of multicomponent tobacco control programs. Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of multicomponent tobacco control programs [109–111]. Policies are most often implemented in combination with others. Even if they are not implemented on the same date, it is often not possible to analytically separate out their independent contributions. However, evaluation of multicomponent interventions inherently captures the potential synergistic or duplicative effects of policies implemented in combination and provides a range of achievable impacts at the population level.

By limiting our paper to the effects of tobacco control interventions on smoking prevalence, initiation, and cessation, we excluded several other intermediate outcomes, such as tobacco consumption. Tobacco consumption data (i.e., cigarette sales data) is routinely collected in many countries, whereas prevalence data requires conducting surveys. Many studies have demonstrated that increased tobacco prices lead to lower per capita cigarette consumption in low-, medium-, and high-income countries [94, 112–142]. Additionally, studies evaluating per capita consumption have generally found an association between comprehensive advertising bans and reduced cigarette consumption in both developed and developing countries [94, 126]. Including tobacco consumption, data could have strengthened our conclusions on the effectiveness of these interventions. However, tobacco consumption data does not allow us to distinguish between reduced smoking prevalence and reduced consumption among smokers. Policies and interventions can affect outcomes beyond smoking behavior [143]. As mentioned earlier, health warning labels can impact on knowledge, salience, and cognitive processing, which can influence behavior. Inclusion of these other outcomes could have strengthened our results.

Many tobacco control interventions affect entire communities or countries. Complex social and cultural contexts often limit the ability to identify comparable groups of individuals or regions of study. As a result, comparison groups may vary on characteristics related to smoking behavior in the population [103]. In the absence of comparable control groups, time series or pre-/post- studies provide useful evidence for effectiveness. Information on prior trends is preferred to a single estimate before and after an intervention [103], but this requires rich surveillance data which may not be available in all settings. In longitudinal studies, participant attrition leads to the potential for selection bias and a reduction in statistical power.

Most studies included in this paper were from high-income countries, in part because they are more likely to have implemented policies. However, they may not necessarily predict the impact in low- and middle-income countries. With global expansion of tobacco control efforts through the FCTC, a wide range of programs and policies are being implemented across the world. Rigorous evaluation of these programs is needed to determine the effectiveness in reducing tobacco use. Previous studies have suggested that lower income populations may be more sensitive to demand-side tobacco control activities. For example, it is well established that low-income populations are more sensitive to changes in price [85]. In addition, Blecher found a greater association between strength of advertising bans and per capita cigarette consumption in developing compared with developed countries [126]. The author suggested that the lower level of awareness of tobacco-related harm increases the public’s susceptibility to tobacco marketing. Similarly, introduction of health warning labels may have a greater impact in settings with fewer other sources of antitobacco information. In addition, implementation of smoking bans could produce a greater change in social norms than in settings, where smoking has been declining for years due to concerted tobacco control efforts.

5. Conclusion/Recommendations

Estimates of the impact of tobacco control policies are critical for setting achievable targets for reductions in smoking prevalence. For several of the policies, we found high or moderately strong evidence that these interventions can independently reduce smoking prevalence in the general population. However, a wide range of impacts were observed. Factors influencing the observed impact likely include the strength of the policy and level of enforcement; promotion around its implementation; the content, tone, and reach of a mass media campaign; the underlying tobacco control environment; strategic activities of the tobacco industry to dampen the effect of policies and programs. Future studies should attempt to characterize these factors to understand the variation in impacts.

Simulation models should account for this uncertainty by incorporating sensitivity analyses or probabilistic approaches to evaluate a possible range of effectiveness. For some policies, indirect evidence can be incorporated with simplifying assumptions, such as studies using per capita consumption or shorter-term outcomes that have been shown to predict subsequent smoking behavior change. Finally, given the number of studies evaluating comprehensive, multicomponent programs, models could be developed to incorporate this evidence, rather than assuming that individual interventions implemented in combination will act independently. Any approach to predict future smoking patterns will require some simplifying assumptions, but modeling can provide critical tools to inform decision-making and priority setting and to set realistic goals for reducing smoking prevalence and improving public health.

Appendix

PubMed Search Strategies

The following Search Strings were used.

Search Number 1

((“Smoking/epidemiology”[mh] OR “Smoking/prevention and control”[mh] OR “Smoking/economics”[mh] OR smoking[tiab] OR smoker*[tiab] OR smoked[tiab] OR cigarette*[tiab] OR tobacco[tiab] OR cigar[tiab] OR bidi*[tiab] OR hooka*[tiab] OR waterpipe*[tiab] OR kretek*[tiab] OR shisha*[tiab]) AND (price[tiab] OR prices[tiab] OR tax[tiab] OR taxes[tiab] OR taxation[tiab])) NOT (animals[mh] NOT humans[mh]).

Search Number 2

((“Smoking/epidemiology”[mh] OR “Smoking/prevention and control”[mh] OR “Smoking/psychology”[mh] OR “Smoking/legislation and jurisprudence”[mh] OR smoking[tiab] OR smoker*[tiab] OR smoked[tiab] OR cigarette*[tiab] OR tobacco[tiab] OR cigar*[tiab] OR bidi*[tiab] OR hooka*[tiab] OR waterpipe*[tiab] OR kretek*[tiab] OR shisha*[tiab]) AND (((bars[tiab] OR pubs[tiab] OR (employee*[tiab] AND (polic*[tiab] OR program*[tiab])) OR indoor*[tiab] OR restaurant*[tiab] OR workplace*[tiab] OR work-place*[tiab] OR office*[tiab] OR hospital*[tiab]) AND (smoke-free[tiab] OR smokefree[tiab] OR “smoke free”[tiab] OR anti-smoking[tiab] OR antismoking[tiab] OR no-smoking[tiab] OR “no smoking”[tiab] OR non-smoking[tiab] OR nonsmoking[tiab] OR (smoking[tiab] AND employee*[tiab]) OR ban[tiab] OR bans[tiab] OR banning[tiab] OR law[tiab] OR legislation[tiab] OR prohibiti*[tiab] OR “smoking restriction”[tiab] OR “smoking restrictions”[tiab] OR “tobacco restriction”[tiab] OR ordinance*[tiab])) OR ((smoke-free[tiab] OR smokefree[tiab] OR “smoke free”[tiab] OR anti-smoking[tiab] OR antismoking[tiab] OR no-smoking[tiab] OR “no smoking”[tiab] OR non-smoking[tiab] OR nonsmoking[tiab] OR “smoking ban”[tiab] OR “smoking bans”[tiab]) AND (ban[tiab] OR bans[tiab] OR banning[tiab] OR law[tiab] OR legislation[tiab] OR prohibiti*[tiab] OR “smoking restriction”[tiab] OR “smoking restrictions”[tiab] OR ordinance*[tiab])))) NOT (animals[mh] NOT humans[mh]).

Search Number 3

((“Smoking/epidemiology”[mh] OR “Smoking/prevention and control”[mh] OR “Smoking/psychology”[mh] OR “Smoking/legislation and jurisprudence”[mh] OR smoking[tiab] OR smoker*[tiab] OR smoked[tiab] OR cigarette*[tiab] OR tobacco[tiab] OR cigar*[tiab] OR bidi*[tiab] OR hooka*[tiab] OR waterpipe*[tiab] OR kretek*[tiab] OR shisha*[tiab]) AND ((advertis*[tiab] OR brand*[tiab] OR marketing[tiab] OR ordinance*[tiab] OR message*[tiab] OR television[tiab] OR tv[tiab] OR televised[tiab] OR “motion pictures”[tiab] OR radio[tiab] OR newspaper*[tiab] OR movie*[tiab] OR “in-store”[tiab] OR “in store”[tiab] OR magazine*[tiab] OR email[tiab] OR “e-mail”[tiab] OR internet[tiab] OR web[tiab] OR print[tiab] OR campaign*[tiab] OR commercial[tiab] OR commercials*[tiab] OR ((display[tiab] OR displays[tiab]) AND (retail[tiab] OR store[tiab] OR “point of purchase”[tiab] OR “point-of-purchase”[tiab OR “point of sale”[tiab] OR “point-of-sale”[tiab] OR “self-service”[tiab] OR “self service”[tiab] OR “self-serve”[tiab] OR “self serve”[tiab])) OR sponsor*[tiab]) AND ((adolescent*[tiab] OR children[tiab] OR minor*[tiab] OR teenager*[tiab] OR teens[tiab] OR “under-age”[tiab] OR young[tiab] OR youth*[tiab] OR kids[tiab]) OR (ban[tiab] OR bans[tiab] OR banning[tiab] OR law[tiab] OR laws[tiab] OR legislation*[tiab] OR sale[tiab] OR sales[tiab] OR purchas*[tiab] OR initiat*[tiab] OR behav*[tiab] OR restrict*[tiab] OR forbid*[tiab] OR prohibit*[tiab])))) NOT (animals[mh] NOT humans[mh]).

Search Number 4

((“Smoking/epidemiology”[mh] OR “Smoking/prevention and control”[mh] OR “Smoking/psychology”[mh] OR “Smoking/legislation and jurisprudence”[mh] OR smoking[tiab] OR smoker*[tiab] OR smoked[tiab] OR cigarette*[tiab] OR tobacco[tiab] OR cigar*[tiab] OR bidi*[tiab] OR beedi*[tiab] OR hooka*[tiab] OR waterpipe*[tiab] OR kretek*[tiab] OR shisha*[tiab] OR chutta*[tiab] OR dhumti*[tiab] OR hookli*[tiab] OR chillum*[tiab]) AND ((health[tiab] AND (warning*[tiab] OR label*[tiab])) OR (warning*[tiab] AND label*[tiab]) OR ((mild[tiab] OR light[tiab] OR “low tar”[tiab]) AND (packs[tiab] OR packet*[tiab] OR package*[tiab] OR label*[tiab])) OR ((“mass media”[tiab] OR television[tiab] OR tv[tiab] OR televised[tiab] OR “motion pictures”[tiab] OR radio[tiab] OR newspaper*[tiab] OR movie*[tiab] OR “in-store”[tiab] OR “in store”[tiab] OR magazine*[tiab] OR email[tiab] OR “e-mail”[tiab] OR internet[tiab] OR web[tiab] OR print[tiab] OR advertis*[tiab] OR campaign*[tiab] OR promotion*[tiab] OR marketing[tiab] OR commercial*[tiab] OR packs[tiab] OR package*[tiab] OR packet*[tiab]) AND (initiat*[tiab] OR cessation[tiab] OR quit[tiab] OR quitting[tiab] OR stop[tiab] OR stopping[tiab] OR antismoking[tiab] OR “anti-smoking”[tiab] OR antitobacco[tiab] OR antitobacco[tiab])))) NOT (animals[mh] NOT humans[mh]).

Search Number 5

Number 1 OR Number 2 OR Number 3 OR Number 4.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Authors’ Contribution

E. A. Tang, G. Chander, H. E. Hutton, O. A. Odelola, J. L. Elf, B. M. Heckman-Stoddard, E. B. Bass, E. A. Little, and E. B. Haberl B. J. Apelberg contributed equally to this paper.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jennifer Ellis for her review and comment. This paper was funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies through the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease.

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