El precio del cigarrillo y la reducción del consumo en Cuba

introduction: the annual study of the consumption of cigarettes is a timely, low-cost and reliable research to follow and upgrade the program of prevention and control of smoking. objectives: to describe the consumption of cigarettes in 2010, its association with the price and the forms of commercialization, the elasticity of demand and other economic and social aspects. methods: a descriptive and observational study was performed, using time series added data. results: when compared with the 2009 consumption, the per capita consumption of cigarettes in 2010 decreased by 12 %, the average price rose by 7.97 % and the sales increased only in the market operating with convertible pesos. the cigarette demand was elastic, so the reduction in the demanded quantity will be proportionally higher than the price increase. conclusions: the price-consumption ratio in 2010 was also present in the cuban setting, and the elasticity of cigarette demand will be more benefited in 2011 since the cigarette supply based on the rationing card ceased to exist. this situation may change in the following years if new price increases are not implemented and the educational work included in the smoking prevention and control strategy is not reinforced.