OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a simulated tax-induced cigarette price increase on its consumption by different expenditure clusters in Iran. METHODS: Employing consecutive cross sections for cigarette consumption, a two-part model was applied for different expenditure groups. RESULTS: A 75% price increase in cigarettes noticeably— as is common in some countries with strong tobacco control policies—reduces current consumption in all five social classes, causing nearly 8% of current male smokers to quit or not to start. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the current study suggest that Iranian policy makers go through to implement tobacco taxation policies to control smoking prevalence, which in turn might lead to a reduction in national healthcare expenditures as well as enhance the global community’s capacity to meet Sustainable Development Goals.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of a simulated tax-induced cigarette price increase on its consumption by different expenditure clusters in Iran. METHODS: Employing consecutive cross sections for cigarette consumption, a two-part model was applied for different expenditure groups. RESULTS: A 75% price increase in cigarettes noticeably— as is common in some countries with strong tobacco control policies—reduces current consumption in all five social classes, causing nearly 8% of current male smokers to quit or not to start. CONCLUSIONS Findings of the current study suggest that Iranian policy makers go through to implement tobacco taxation policies to control smoking prevalence, which in turn might lead to a reduction in national healthcare expenditures as well as enhance the global community’s capacity to meet Sustainable Development Goals.