The association between economic recession and public support for increased tobacco taxation
in 27 European countries
Sammanfattning
Background: Increased taxation on tobacco products is an effective method of reducing tobacco
use. This study assessed population support among respondents aged ?15 years, from 27 European
Union (EU) countries for increased taxation and other tobacco control measures during the 2009-2012
period. Methods: Nationally representative data were obtained from the 2009 (n=26,788) and 2012
(n=26,751) cross-sectional Eurobarometer surveys. Estimates were compared using chi-square
statistics. The effect of the relative change in gross domestic product (GDP) on the change in support
for increased taxation during 2009-2012 was calculated using the Pearson correlation coefficient and
linear regression models. Results: Between 2009 and 2012, population support for increased taxes
on tobacco products declined (56.1% to 53.2%; p<0.001). However, support for other tobacco control
measures increased significantly. After adjusting for baseline GDP per capita (2009), a 10% increase
in GDP per capita was associated with 4.5% increase in support of tax increases. When Latvia and
Lithuania were excluded from the analyses (because of their marked deviation from the general
trend), there was a strong correlation between the change in GDP and support for increased taxes (?
=0.64; p<0.001). Also, after adjusting for baseline GDP, support for higher taxes on tobacco increased
by 7.0% for every 10% increase in GDP between 2009 and 2012. Conclusions : Population support for
tax increases declined in the EU between 2009 and 2012, especially in countries with declines in
GDP. Nonetheless, public support for other tobacco control measures remains high, thus indicating a
viable environment for more comprehensive tobacco control.