Learning Objectives: To understand the source of cigarettes for adult smokers and how these sources are related to tobacco control policies.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To describe the cigarette purchasing patterns of adults and to determine the association between cigarette prices and purchasing patterns.
METHODS: 3,567 current smokers who primarily resided in nine states completed a tobacco use telephone interview in 2001. Smokers reported their utilization in the past 12 months of discount coupons and purchase of cigarettes from the Internet, military bases, Indian reservations, another state, and another country because cigarettes were cheaper in those locations.
RESULTS: Initial analyses indicate that one in three smokers has used a cigarette discount coupons in the past 12 months. In the past 12 months, 1.7% purchased cigarettes over the Internet, 1.9% purchased cigarettes on a military base, 10.7% purchased cigarettes on an Indian reservation, 17.0% purchased cigarettes in another state, and 1.0% purchased cigarettes in another country. Preliminary results indicate the persons who live in states with higher cigarette taxes were more likely to report purchasing cigarettes from alternative, less expensive venues. For example, 5.0% of smokers who lived in New York State purchased cigarettes over the Internet compared with 1.0% of smokers who lived outside of New York State. Additional analyses will be presented to describe the characteristics of persons who purchase cigarettes from alternative sources and to more completely describe the association between cigarette prices and purchasing patterns.
DISCUSSION: Adult cigarette smokers may respond to price increases by purchasing cigarettes from less expensive sources. These findings are particularly relevant for estimating the true impact of price increases on smoking behavior as well as regulatory implications concerning cigarette tax collection and interstate trading issues.
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