Available evidence indicates that therewas a significant decline in smoking in Brazil between 1989and 2006. About two decades ago, the government launched atobacco control program, with a marked acceleration ofefforts since 1990, focusing on non-price interventions suchas bans on advertising, restrictions on smoking in publicplaces, and other activities. Although the Brazil tobaccocontrol program is considered one of the most comprehensivein the developing world, no formal evaluation has beencarried out. A recent study assessed the smoking situationin Brazil and the role of the tobacco control program, andcompared it to experience in other countries. The studyassessed key trends in smoking rates and lung cancer inBrazil, and reviewed price and non-price interventions. Adiscussion of fiscal instruments and smuggling is alsoincluded in the report. The study found that a 10 percentincrease in smoking restrictions (legal and otherrestrictions), will reduce consumption by 2.3 percent in thelong term, a 10 percent price increase will reduceconsumption by about 4.8 percent in the long-term. The studyshows that an increase of 72 percent in the cigarettespecific tax will increase prices by about 14 percent,decrease consumption per adult 7 percent, and increasefiscal income from tobacco by 60 percent. Econometricstudies, such as those included in this report, maycontribute to appraise policy impact on public health.Analyzes of the costs of smoking to households the healthsystem, labor market, and the economy, as well as the impactof price and tax increases on smoking habits, and on theburden of disease, will provide useful contributions forfurther development of public policy in this area.
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