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Internet cigarette vendors make tax-free claims and sell cigarettes cheaper than retail outlets
Hall, M. G., Williams, R. S., Gammon, D. G., & Ribisl, K. M. (2016). Internet cigarette vendors make tax-free claims and sell cigarettes cheaper than retail outlets. Tobacco Control, 25(6), 616-618. https://doi.org/10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2015-052359
Objective This paper aims to (1) assess whether promotion of tax-free sales among Internet cigarette vendors (ICVs) changed between 2009 and 2011, (2) determine which types of ICVs are most likely to promote tax-free sales (eg, US-based, international or mixed location ICVs), and (3) compare the price of cigarettes advertised in ICVs to prices at brick-and-mortar retail outlets.
Methods We analysed data from the 200 most popular ICVs in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to assess promotion of tax-free sales and the price of Marlboro cigarette cartons. We used Nielsen scanner data from 2009, 2010 and 2011 to measure the price of Marlboro cartons in US grocery stores.
Findings The odds of ICVs claiming tax-free status were higher in 2011 than in 2009 (OR=1.58, p
Conclusions ICVs commonly promote tax-free sales, and cigarettes are cheaper online compared to US grocery stores. Better enforcement of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act is needed to address tax-free cigarette sales among ICVs.