Abstract:
Tax measure is one of the most effective policy interventions to reduce tobacco use but the smuggling is the opposite impact that was worried. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the situation of illicit cigarette use among current smokers in the south of Thailand and the perception regarding the accessibility of illicit cigarette in those areas. Target groups are current smokers aged 18 years and over, living in municipal or urban areas, in eight provinces of the south; Pattani, Satul, Songkhla, Phangha, Ranong, Phuket and Suratthani. Samples were selected by systematic sampling with listing and data collection. Data were collected by face to face interview and cigarette pack gathering from 2,048 samples during May to June, 2011 and analyzed the factors influencing on illicit cigarette behavior by Logistic Regression, OR and Cox & Snell R Square. The results showed 16% of current smokers smoked illicit cigarettes, considered by examination the tax stamp on the packs. The traits of illicit cigarette smokers are high among female (higher than male for 3%), the lower age, student and low to moderate income groups. The three provinces which found highly use illicit cigarettes were Pattani, Satul and Songkhla. 76.9% of Illicit cigarette purchased the last cigarettes from grocery shops. In the past 12 months, 22.3% of current smokers and 72.5% of illicit cigarette users had ever bought illicit cigarettes from grocery shops and they believed that those cigarettes were illegal. 9.4% of current smokers and 54.0% of illicit cigarette users strongly believed that those purchased cigarettes were illicit which notified by Thai pictorial health warning and had not Thai tax stamp. 17.3% of current smokers opined that it’s quite easy for illicit cigarette buying. The results revealed seven factors influencing on the illicit cigarette smoking from high to low influence. They were 1) perceived the last cigarette purchase was illicit 2) province 3) perceived cigarette selling around residence was illicit 4) tried to buy cheaper cigarette than normal cigarette in the past 6 months 5) occupation 6) economic status and 7) age group. These 7 co=factors could estimate the illicit cigarette smoking for 40.8%. These results recommend the related organization to join to strictly subdue the cigarette smuggling, including execute the other measures together such as strictly law enforcement, continuously tax increasing, adjust law to increase the punishment of violation, health education to youth, and develop illicit cigarette surveillance system.
TRC Data Center