Tobacco Control Policies

Tobacco Control Policies

1. Why do we prevent smoking?

   • Negative externalities
     • Burden on non-smokers and employers
   • Lack of self-control
   • Govt intervention
     • No smoking in public
   • Some ppl not aware of health risk
     • Those who cannot read or write
   • Some smokers are irrational
     • Hyperbolic discounting
       • More weight on current satisfaction and less weight on future satisfaction

2. Key Tobacco Control Policies

   • Graphic warnings
     • Wear out effect: Need to change picture because people are used to the picture (it becomes less effective)
   • Taxes (Prov & Fed)
     • Policy reduced by - black market/native reserves/smuggling;  -also wealthy people can still buy cigarettes - compensatory behavior: more inhales per cigarette
   • Point of sale display bans
   • Telephone hot lines
   • School education programs
   • Youth Access Enforcement
     • Effectiveness reduced when smokers asking cigarettes from non retail sources such as friends and parents; theft (black market)
   • Clean air laws
   • Media Compaigns
   • Advertising bans

Images and files in the map