Illicit Tobacco in Lithuania: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaida Liutkutė-Gumarov, Lukas Galkus, Janina Petkevičienė, Mindaugas Štelemėkas, Laura Miščikienė, Aušra Mickevičienė and Justina Vaitkevičiūtė
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Vaida Liutkutė-Gumarov: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Lukas Galkus: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Janina Petkevičienė: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Mindaugas Štelemėkas: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Laura Miščikienė: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Aušra Mickevičienė: Department of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Justina Vaitkevičiūtė: Health Research Institute, Faculty of Public Health, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 19, 1-15

Abstract: Taxation policies are the most cost-effective measure to reduce overall tobacco consumption. However, cigarettes in Lithuania are among the cheapest in the European Union. The threat of the illicit trade is often used to compromise evidence-based policies, pricing policies particularly. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of illicit cigarette consumption in Lithuania and identify the main characteristics of illicit cigarette smokers. The national cross-sectional survey with direct observation of the latest purchased pack of cigarettes was conducted between August and September 2019. In total, 1050 smokers aged ≥18 were interviewed face-to-face. The illicit share of the total consumption of cigarettes per year was 10.7% with 9.7% of smokers showing or describing illicit cigarette packs compared to 17% reported by industry-funded studies. Older smokers, smokers with lower education and heavy smokers were more likely to regularly purchase illicit cigarettes. The average price of an illicit pack was almost two times lower than licit. Although the illicit trade of tobacco products is a serious policy challenge, the threat of an increase in illicit trade should not delay tobacco taxation improvements.

Keywords: tobacco; cigarettes; illicit trade; smoking; Lithuania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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