Opinion on tobacco tax increase: Factors associated with individuals' support in Germany

Listed in:

• Tax, price and tobacco use: Adults
• Attitudes and perceptions

Abstract

Objectives To assess the opinion on tobacco tax increases in Germany. Design Ten wave cross-sectional study with assessments before and after the tax increases. Setting General population of Germany. Participants Ten representative samples from general population with a total number of 27,608 persons aged 14 and above were interviewed. Main outcome measures Opinion ("support", "disapprove", and "undetermined") before and after tobacco tax increases. Results Thirty-nine percent of the sample supported the tobacco tax increases. Support was higher among non-smokers and subjects with higher levels of education. Data indicated an increase of support over time from 35% in 2002 to 42% in 2005 which was not affected by the amount of price increase. Conclusions The preliminary findings, that the amount of price increase did not affect the support of the general population in a negative way, and that support grew during a succession of tax increases, might be useful for legislators.