Motives Underlying the Consumption of Black Market Cigarettes among Young People

Abstract

This study seeks to reveal the motives underlying the consumption of black market cigarettes among young people. The roles of several potential motives were investigated, both in terms of their direct impact on the consumption of black market cigarettes and in terms of their influence via a mediating variable, namely the formation of a positive attitude towards black market cigarettes. A cross-sectional survey of smokers aged 14–29 years old was employed as a main research tool. The findings indicated that the most important determinants of the consumption of black market cigarettes among young people are susceptibility to social influence, the desire to adapt to a social group through the consumption of a certain product or brand, and a positive attitude towards black market cigarettes. Conversely, among young people, price consciousness does not significantly influence either the formation of a positive attitude towards black market cigarettes or intentions of consuming such cigarettes.

Keywords:

• Black market cigarettes
• desire to adapt to the social group
• informal economy
• susceptibility to social influence
• young people

JEL:

• D12
• D91