The $5 Man: the Underground Economic Response to a Large Cigarette Tax Increase in New York City

Overview

Journal Am J Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2007 Jun 30

PMID 17600270

Citations 23

Authors

Donna Shelley

M Jennifer Cantrell

Joyce Moon-Howard

Destiny Q Ramjohn

Nancy VanDevanter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the mechanisms by which living in a disadvantaged minority community influences smoking and illegal cigarette sale and purchasing behaviors after a large cigarette tax increase.

Methods: Data were collected from 14 focus groups (n=104) that were conducted during the spring of 2003 among Blacks aged 18 years and older living in New York City.

Results: A large tax increase led to what focus group participants described as a pervasive illegal cigarette market in a low-income minority community. Perceived pro-smoking community norms, a stressful social and economic environment, and the availability of illegal cigarettes worked together to reinforce smoking and undermine cessation.

Conclusions: Although interest in quitting was high, bootleggers created an environment in which reduced-price cigarettes were easier to access than cessation services. This activity continues to undermine the public health goals of the tax increase.

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