Tax and the Economy

Resources related to the government costs of tobacco use, taxes as sources of revenue for government programs and personal financial impacts of tobacco

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Case Study: Lessons from Pakistan

Case study detailing communications strategy in tax campaign in Pakistan and how the media messages highlighted how increasing tax on tobacco products can help protect vulnerable populations.

Case study detailing communications strategy in tax campaign in Pakistan and how the media messages highlighted how increasing tax on tobacco products can help protect vulnerable …

April 16, 2024 June 5, 2024 15 1 MB pdf Publish
Tobacconomics: Cigarette Taxes Scorecard

Policy brief on global tax scorecard by country which includes a rating system on affordability change and tax structure.

Policy brief on global tax scorecard by country which includes a rating system on affordability change and tax …

April 16, 2024 June 5, 2024 2 www Publish
“British American Tobacco Drains Nearly $700 million in tax revenue and low and middle-income countries”

Press release on how British American Tobacco is taking advantage of accounting loopholes to gain profit from low- and middle-income countries.

Press release on how British American Tobacco is taking advantage of accounting loopholes to gain profit from low- and middle-income …

April 16, 2024 June 6, 2024 4 www Publish
Tobacco Prices Impact The Economy

Graphic depicting how tobacco prices can impact the economy negatively.  

Graphic depicting how tobacco prices can impact the economy …

April 18, 2024 June 5, 2024 1 1 MB www Publish
World Health Organization: Earmarked tobacco taxes lessons learnt from nine countries

This document offers valuable insights into various countries and subnational states that have allocated a portion of their tax revenues to healthcare and health promotion initiatives. It details how these regions have utilized tobacco tax revenues specifically to support their health-related programs.

This document offers valuable insights into various countries and subnational states that have allocated a portion of their tax revenues to healthcare and health promotion initiatives. It details how these regions have utilized tobacco tax revenues specifically to support their health-related programs.

May 21, 2024 June 4, 2024 13 2 MB pdf Publish
Tobacco Taxes is Effective

Graphic about how tobacco taxes being an effective way to lower consumption.

Graphic about how tobacco taxes being an effective way to lower …

May 21, 2024 June 4, 2024 2 www Publish
Affordability of Tax Products

Graphic about what children are potentially buying with their lunch money.

Graphic about what children are potentially buying with their lunch money.

May 21, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 www Publish
Affordability of Daily Products vs. Tobacco Products

Affordability of daily products and how they can be more expensive than tobacco products.

Affordability of daily products and how they can be more expensive than tobacco …

May 21, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 MB png Publish
Affordability of Tobacco Increases

Graphic on positive impacts of tobacco tax and how it positively impacts national salary and consumer price index.

Graphic on positive impacts of tobacco tax and how it positively impacts national salary and consumer price index. 

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 2 www Publish
Tobacco Taxes Work: Country Specific

Graphic about the positive impact of tobacco tax in country. Graphic can be modified in Canva to reflect your country.

Graphic about the positive impact of tobacco tax in country. Graphic can be modified in Canva to reflect your …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 2 www Publish
Tobacco Taxes Work: Country Specific

Graphic about tobacco taxes impact a country.

Graphic about tobacco taxes impact a …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 9 www Publish
Successful Country Examples

Examples from tobacco tax communication campaigns in Philippines, Kenya, Chile, and Mexico.

Examples from tobacco tax communication campaigns in Philippines, Kenya, Chile, and …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 10 1 MB pdf Publish
Support Saving Lives

Graphic showing support for higher taxes for cigarettes.

Graphic showing support for higher taxes for …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 781 KB png Publish
Made of Money

Graphic about affordability of tobacco products.

Graphic about affordability of tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 77 KB jpg Publish
Wasting Hard Earned Money

Graphic about the affordability of tobacco products and how people can spend their livelihoods on it.

Graphic about the affordability of tobacco products and how people can spend their livelihoods on …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 Publish
Expensive Habit

Graphic showcasing money spent on tobacco habit.

Graphic showcasing money spent on tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 75 KB jpg Publish
Burning a Hole in your Cash

Graphic showing the cost of tobacco products.

Graphic showing the cost of tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 207 KB jpg Publish
Piggy Bank

Graphic about the cost of tobacco products.

Graphic about the cost of tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 136 KB jpg Publish
Tobacco’s Heavy Burden

The costly burden of tobacco products on people.

The costly burden of tobacco products on …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 214 KB png Publish
Save money and save lives by not smoking

Graphic about how smoking impacts lives and makes people lose money.

Graphic about how smoking impacts lives and makes people lose …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 264 KB png Publish
How Much Smokers Spend on Tobacco

Smokers spend an excess amount on tobacco products.

Smokers spend an excess amount on tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 189 KB png Publish
Squeeze Every Penny

Graphic about the increasing costs of addiction on tobacco products.

Graphic about the increasing costs of addiction on tobacco …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 Publish
Save Money

Graphic about how stopping smoking can help save money.

Graphic about how stopping smoking can help save …

May 22, 2024 June 4, 2024 1 36 KB jpg Publish
Tobacco Taxes: Available Evidence for Argentina

As a consequence of tobacco consumption, it was estimated that approximately 47,700 people die each year in Argentina from diseases linked to smoking and almost $197 billion are spent on direct costs1.

As a consequence of tobacco consumption, it was estimated that approximately 47,700 people die each year in Argentina from diseases linked to smoking and almost $197 billion are spent on direct …

August 16, 2024 August 16, 2024 , 142 KB pdf Publish
Do Young People Support Increasing Taxes on Cigarettes?

Experts and the National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) are promoting a bill that aims to raise cigarette taxes to 65%. Recently, they conducted a survey among young people, and the majority agreed with increasing the taxes.

Experts and the National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) are promoting a bill that aims to raise cigarette taxes to 65%. Recently, they conducted a survey among young people, and the majority agreed with increasing the …

March 25, 2025 March 25, 2025 www Publish
Why Increase Tobacco Taxes?

Tobacco taxes in Costa Rica have remained unchanged since 2012, when Law 9,028 was approved. That’s why a bill promoted by the National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) seeks to raise that tax to 65% (see attached video from Telenoticias).

Tobacco taxes in Costa Rica have remained unchanged since 2012, when Law 9,028 was approved. That’s why a bill promoted by the National Anti-Tobacco Network (Renata) seeks to raise that tax to 65% (see attached video from …

March 25, 2025 March 25, 2025 www Publish
Health Taxes: The Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health Report 2024 A Compelling Policy for the Crises of Today

Report from Bloomberg Philanthropies that highlights enormous health and financial benefits of raising excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks, finding that increasing the price of these health-harming products can prevent millions of deaths and generate trillions in revenue for governments worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The report, released by the Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health, underscores the urgent need for governments around the world to implement this under-utilized policy and improve public health.

Report from Bloomberg Philanthropies that highlights enormous health and financial benefits of raising excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks, finding that increasing the price of these health-harming products can prevent millions of deaths and generate trillions in revenue for governments worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The report, released by the Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health, underscores the urgent need for governments around the world to implement this under-utilized policy and improve public health.

April 28, 2025 April 28, 2025 , pdf Publish
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February 3, 2026 February 3, 2026 55 KB jpg Publish
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The public wants government to raise tobacco taxes. Policy makers and government officials can benefit by implementing this popular policy.

  • The public wants leaders to prioritize their health and well-being, not tobacco industry profits.
  • Tax policies that reign in the tobacco industry are a popular and effective means to generate revenue.
  • Higher tobacco taxes shift company profits to government revenues, which can be allocated to further tobacco control efforts and other critical health and development needs.

Well-designed Tobacco Taxes Counter the Negative Impacts of Tobacco on Our Economy and Drive Significant Public Benefits

  • a. Tobacco addiction imposes huge costs for government, businesses and individuals.
    Tobacco use increases healthcare costs and results in lost worker productivity and
    wages due to tobacco-related disease, morbidity and mortality.
  • b. Cheap tobacco devastates family finances, particularly among low-income households.
    • Tobacco addiction drains money from low-wage workers and impacts
    household budgets for essential items like food, clothing and education.
    • Tobacco-related diseases increase personal healthcare costs and decrease
    earnings, exacerbating issues of poverty for low-income households. 
  •  c. Tobacco taxes are an effective and immediate revenue source and have minimal
    economic impact.
    • Tax increases directly benefit governments through increased
    revenues.
     Every nation and sub-national entity that has significantly increased its tobacco tax has enjoyed substantial increases in revenue, even while reducing smoking.
  • • There is considerable potential for tobacco taxation to generate much-needed
    financing for development and health programs, particularly in low- and
    middle-income countries.
    • The tobacco industry’s claims of taxes resulting in job losses are overstated.
    Tax increases have been shown to have a minimal effect on overall
    employment.
  • d. For tobacco taxes to be effective, they must result in an immediate and significant
    increase in prices for most products on the market.
    • Tobacco use rates decline the most when taxes result in a dramatic and
    immediate increase in product prices.
    • While nearly all countries tax tobacco products, an excise tax is the most
    important type of tobacco tax, since it applies uniquely to tobacco products
    and raises prices relative to those of other goods and services.
    • Simpler tobacco tax structures are more effective than complex (tiered) ones
    which are difficult to administer and can undermine the health and revenue
    impacts of tobacco excise taxes..

Tobacco companies strongly oppose tobacco taxes because they know taxes effectively reduce tobacco use and the companies’ profits.

The industry has a documented pattern of interfering with tax policies including pressuring public officials, subverting legislation, and presenting legal challenges to delay processes. 

b. The tobacco industry’s claims on illicit trade and tax revenue loss are not credible. Tobacco companies are involved in or complicit in illicit trade. 

c. The tobacco industry uses retailers, tobacco farmers, hospitality workers and others as puppets to fight tobacco tax increases when the reality is taxes have a neutral impact on overall employment. 

Tobacco Taxes are the Single Most Effective Way to Reduce Tobacco Use, Improve Public Health, and Save Lives.

  • The most direct and effective method for reducing tobacco consumption is to increase the price of tobacco products through tax increases. Higher tobacco prices encourage cessation among existing tobacco users, prevent initiation among potential users, and reduce the quantity of tobacco consumed among continuing users.
  • Higher tobacco taxes are effective at reducing smoking rates among vulnerable populations such as youth and low-income smokers.
    • Every 10% increase in prices shows an overall cigarette prevalence reduction by about 4% or 5%. 
    • Tobacco Taxes reduce youth smoking by about 6% and prevent young people from initiating smoking.
  • Keeping tobacco products cheap is a core industry strategy to increase the overall consumption of tobacco products, lure youth to addiction, and make it harder for smokers to quit.
    • Tobacco is cheap and getting cheaper, especially compared to staple products like food and clothing.
    • Tobacco prices are kept low in targeted countries to spur a new generation of addiction.
  • Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally, accounting for about 8 million deaths each year.
    • Tobacco use is the world’s leading cause of preventable death, killing more than eight million people worldwide and causing more than $1.4 trillion in health care expenses and other economic harm each year.
    • Tobacco use is the only risk factor shared by all four main categories of NCDs,  cancer, heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes – and accounts for nearly one in six deaths from NCDs.
    • Tobacco consumption causes more deaths annually than the combined toll of HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria.