Problem/Objective: Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death in Wisconsin. Raising cigarette prices through tobacco taxes has been shown to reduce smoking prevalence and consumption in the U.S. Previous work using Wisconsin data has demonstrated a relationship between tobacco taxes and cigarette consumption, but more recent and comprehensive study is needed to further investigate the effect of tobacco taxes in Wisconsin. This study will examine the relationship of Wisconsin's tobacco tax relative to measures of smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption through 2005.

Methods: Data on cigarette prices and per capita consumption came from The Tax Burden on Tobacco annual report. All other data on smoking prevalence and consumption came from the Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, and Youth Tobacco Survey.

Results: The inverse correlation of tobacco taxes and smoking can be seen through increases in cigarette price and decreases in smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption in Wisconsin over the past two decades. Prevalence of youth smoking and overall cigarette consumption are especially affected by price increases. Accordingly, recent decreases in price mirror recent increases in youth prevalence.

Conclusions: Given that the vast majority of smokers begin the habit before the age of 18 and cigarette price greatly affects youth smoker prevalence, increases in cigarette prices through increased tobacco taxes are a powerful tool in preventing tobacco use. Increased cigarette prices are also a motivator for adult smokers to either cut back on consumption or quit the habit.