Tobacco Prevalence in Lebanon Post-Crisis

This Report was written by American University of Beirut in Lebanon. The report assesses trends in tobacco prevalence and consumption using data from a nationally representative survey and sales data. The researchers find that 66% of survey respondents are regular smokers, with 54% of them smoking cigarettes and 39% preferring waterpipe. The 2019 financial crisis, which included currency devaluation, reduced cigarette tax burden, and significant changes in income distribution, led to shifts in relative prices between brands and an ambiguous effect on affordability. Prices of foreign brands decreased significantly, reducing the gap between foreign and local brands like Cedars. Still, the overall reduction in disposable income led consumers to switch to cheaper brands like Cedars, with its consumption increasing from 32% pre-2019 to 61% in 2024. The report concludes with recommendations for policy makers to increase tobacco taxes in response to continued high rates of tobacco use. 

A Policy Brief based on the report can be found here.