How effective are pictorial warnings on tobacco products? New evidence on smoking behaviour using Australian panel data.
Studies examining the introduction of pictorial warnings on cigarette packages provide inconclusive evidence due to small samples and methodological issues. We use individual-level panel data from Australia to examine the association between pictorial warnings and smoking behaviour - prevalence, quitting, initiating and relapsing. The pictorial warnings were accompanied by a reference to a smoking cessation helpline and supportive television commercials. Applying an event study framework, we show that the reform reduced smoking rates by around 4% within the first year of the policy. The effect decreases with age, is similar for men and women, and is slightly larger for low-educated compared to high-educated individuals. The reform permanently lowered smoking rates primarily due to increased quitting in the year of the reform. Thus, pictorial warnings combined with a reference to a smoking cessation helpline and supportive media campaigns are an important tobacco control measure to reduce the social costs of smoking.
['Kuehnle|Daniel|D|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000367:Age Factors D001315:Australia D004522:Educational Status D005260:Female D006293:Health Promotion D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011356:Product Labeling D012907:Smoking D016540:Smoking Cessation D000074606:Smoking Prevention D055815:Young Adult
Pictorial warnings Smoking Cessation Smoking initiation Smoking relapse