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Federal Cigarette Tax Increase and Current Economy Will Change Smoker's Habits

Posted on: Tuesday, 31 March 2009, 11:24 CDT

PARSIPPANY, N.J., March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 1, the federal cigarette tax will increase by 62 cents to a total of $1.01 per pack, to fund the expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program that was signed into law earlier this year.(1) A new survey shows that the April 1st federal price increase on cigarettes and the current economy are big concerns for smokers and will change their current smoking habits.(2)

The survey, commissioned by the marketers of Nicorette, showed 70 percent of smokers say that the current price of cigarettes is already very expensive and is one of their main concerns about smoking, second only to health concerns.(2) For survey respondents over 45 years old, the price of cigarettes was the most cited concern.(2) Further, 56 percent of smokers say the April 1st price increase will prompt them to smoke fewer cigarettes and 72 percent say the price increase on cigarettes would increase their intention to quit.(2)

Smokers also say the current economy is a big concern and it will prompt them to change their smoking habits.(2) Forty-seven percent of smokers say they would cut back on cigarettes because of the economy.(2)

"Research shows that smokers are more likely to try to quit when the price of cigarettes goes up," said Dr. Frank Chaloupka, professor of economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and affiliate of the National Bureau of Economic Research. "Given the recent tax hike and the state of the economy, now would be a great time for smokers to re-evaluate how smoking affects their finances and calculate how much they could save by quitting. A typical pack-a-day smoker could be spending approximately $2,000 each year on cigarettes, but no matter how expensive it is to smoke, quitting smoking is a big challenge."

Almost half of smokers currently quitting, or more likely to quit smoking, noted in the survey that they do not plan to get help.(2) In fact, almost half (48 percent) said they would prefer to quit cold turkey or gradually cut down smoking without assistance.(2) Unfortunately, research shows only 3-5 percent of smokers who quit without the help of cessation tools are successful long-term.(3) The same research shows smokers are twice as likely to be successful if they use therapeutic nicotine rather than quitting unassisted.(3)

"Tools for cessation, such as therapeutic nicotine, social support and counseling have been proven to significantly increase a smoker's chances of quitting successfully," said Saul Shiffman, Ph.D., professor in the departments of psychology and pharmaceutical science at the University of Pittsburgh. "Therapeutic nicotine products, like Nicorette White Ice Mint gum, are a safe and effective approach to quitting, and can help a smoker manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms during the quitting process."

Smokers interested in quitting due to the federal tax increase can access free tools and resources at www.nicorette.com. Nicorette is giving away a free starter pack of Nicorette White Ice Mint gum while supplies last.

About the Survey

A national survey of 1,046 U.S. adult smokers was conducted in March 2009 by Richard Day Research through Harris Interactive.(2) The survey was balanced according to age, gender and regional dispersion of smokers found in the 2007 National Health interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.(2) The survey was conducted on behalf of Nicorette.

About Nicorette White Ice Mint gum

Nicorette White Ice Mint gum is a stop-smoking aid which provides fast, safe, controlled doses of nicotine to ease withdrawal from cigarettes. As an added benefit it is the first smoking cessation gum proven to help whiten teeth and reduce stains. Nicorette White Ice Mint gum can double a smoker's chances of quitting (versus placebo) and remain smoke-free long-term (6 months and longer) and offers a step-down therapy weaning a smoker off gradually. Nicorette White Ice Mint gum is sugar-free and available in strengths of 2mg (for smokers of less than 25 cigarettes each day) and 4mg (for smokers of 25 or more cigarettes each day) and also is available in exciting flavors such as Fresh Mint, Fruit Chill and Cinnamon Surge.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette(R) and NicoDerm(R)CQ(R), and Commit(R), as well as many medicine cabinet staples -- alli(R), Aquafresh(R), Sensodyne(R), and TUMS(R) -- which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

About GlaxoSmithKline

GlaxoSmithKline - one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies - is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For company information visit: http://www.gsk.com.

(1) http://www.ncsl.org/programs/health/tobacco_tax_bill09.htm

(2) Survey of 1,046 smokers. Richard Day Research. March 2009.

(3) Hughes JR, Keely J, Naud S. Shape of the relapse curve and long-term abstinence among untreated smokers. 2004 Addiction, 99, 29-38.

Contacts: Mark Polisky, GolinHarris 312-729-4417 mpolisky@golinharris.com Jennifer May, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare 412-200-3729 jennifer.l.may@gsk.com

SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

Source: PR Newswire

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