Public policies, tobacco taxes and tobacco consumption : evidence from Hong Kong

Document Type

Journal article

Source Publication

International Journal of Public Law and Policy

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Volume

2

Issue

3

First Page

215

Last Page

228

Keywords

Health, Hong Kong, Public policy, Smoking prevalence, Tobacco consumption, Tobacco control measures, Tobacco tax

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of statutory policies on the prevalence of smoking in Hong Kong from 1982 to 2010. Different public policy interventions, including tobacco excise duties, bans on tobacco advertising and restrictions of public smoking, are reviewed and their separate and combined effects are empirically measured. The results confirm that increasing the price of tobacco products through taxation is the most effective tool for reducing tobacco consumption. Moreover, the Hong Kong Government's comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising and restrictions on public smoking had a significant and negative impact on smoking prevalence, while the influences of individual policy interventions are less obvious. These results suggest that a comprehensive tobacco control programme is an effective means of reducing tobacco consumption.

DOI

10.1504/IJPLAP.2012.047404

Print ISSN

20447663

E-ISSN

20447671

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd

Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.

Full-text Version

Publisher’s Version

Language

English

Recommended Citation

Cheng, S. (2012). Public policies, tobacco taxes and tobacco consumption: Evidence from Hong Kong. International Journal of Public Law and Policy, 2(3), 215-228. doi: 10.1504/IJPLAP.2012.047404

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