Young people and those with low income are the most likely to quit when tobacco prices rise. Increasing tobacco taxes is the most efficient way of reducing tobacco use and saving lives. High tobacco taxes also bring the government revenues that can be used for treating illnesses caused by tobacco and for funding health promotion efforts.
How we work
Advocating for tax increases
Supporting government and public health leaders calling for increasing tobacco taxes as a key strategy to deter tobacco consumption, reduce the burden of noncommunicable diseases, and finance sustainable development.
Producing a Vietnamese broadcast ad to cultivate support for increasing tobacco taxes, in which a bereaved widow who lost her husband to cancer worries about her son starting to smoke and says, “Cigarettes are too cheap and easy to buy”.
Joining with government officials and civil society members to offer policy recommendations for tobacco tax increases that were adopted shortly thereafter in Timor-Leste, a country with one of the world’s highest smoking rates.
Collaborating with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to issue a policy brief outlining the heath and revenue benefits of raising the tobacco tax at least 20% and simplifying the tobacco taxation system.
Creating social media campaigns that draw nearly 2 million followers from around the world galvanized for creative actions from “die-ins” at shopping malls to doctors championing tax increases that protect childrenfrom additive tobacco products.
Collaborating with prominent political leaders in Pakistan to launch a network of Anti-Tobacco Clubs at universities to encourage students to advocate for an increase in tobacco taxes, which was indeed enacted before the end of 2022.
Organizing a youth-oriented event in 2022 in Türkiye with a special guest, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who promised, among other commitments, to increase the national tobacco tax again, which he soon did.
Highlighting Argentina and Chile as regional models for Latin America for taxing tobacco at the highest level recommended by the World Health Organization.
Publicizing findings in the report “Health Taxes To Save Lives” that raising tobacco taxes alone could prevent 27 million deaths over 50 years—saving more lives from noncommunicable diseases than any other health policy.
This video from a mass media campaign in Türkiye makes the point that every 10% increase in tobacco prices means a 15% reduction in tobacco use among children and young adults
A mother says, “To protect children from the trap of tobacco, I support increasing taxes on tobacco products”
This video from a mass media campaign in Türkiye makes the point that every 10% increase in tobacco prices means a 15% reduction in tobacco use among children and young adults
