Christopher J Cadham1, Luz Maria Sanchez-Romero1, Nancy L Fleischer2, Ritesh Mistry3, Jana L Hirschtick2, Rafael Meza2, David T Levy4. 1. Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, 3300 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, DC, USA. 2. Department of Epidemiology, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 3. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. 4. Georgetown University-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, 3300 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, DC, USA. dl777@georgetown.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes; however, mentholated tobacco products were exempt. Since 2009, over 20 US jurisdictions and numerous countries around the world have extended this restriction to menthol. Currently, the FDA is reconsidering its position on a nation-wide menthol cigarette ban. However, the effects of such a ban remain unclear. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of a menthol cigarette ban on individual behaviors (initiation, cessation, and product switching), sales, and compliance. METHODS: We conducted a search of the international literature using PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science (to November 25, 2019). We retrieved articles relevant to the impacts of an implemented or hypothetical menthol ban. We also included studies of flavored tobacco product bans due to their potential relevance in gauging compliance and product substitutability. RESULTS: The search identified 493 articles, of which 24 were included. Studies examined the effects of implemented menthol bans (n = 6), hypothetical menthol bans (n = 12) and implemented flavor bans that exclude menthol (n = 6). Menthol bans were found to reduce sales and increase smoking cessation with only partial substitution for non-menthol cigarettes. US smokers' reactions to a hypothetical ban indicate that about 25-64% would attempt to quit smoking and 11-46% would consider switching to other tobacco products, including 15-30% to e-cigarettes. Flavor ban studies indicate reductions in initiation of 6%. Ban compliance was high, but studies indicate that the tobacco industry and retailers have attempted to circumvent their impact via packaging changes and online sales. CONCLUSION: Our review finds that extending the US cigarette flavor ban to menthol products would promote smoking cessation and reduce initiation. This evidence supports further action by the FDA towards mentholated tobacco products. However, few studies have been conducted in the vaping era.
BACKGROUND: The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes; however, mentholated tobacco products were exempt. Since 2009, over 20 US jurisdictions and numerous countries around the world have extended this restriction to menthol. Currently, the FDA is reconsidering its position on a nation-wide menthol cigarette ban. However, the effects of such a ban remain unclear. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of a menthol cigarette ban on individual behaviors (initiation, cessation, and product switching), sales, and compliance. METHODS: We conducted a search of the international literature using PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science (to November 25, 2019). We retrieved articles relevant to the impacts of an implemented or hypothetical menthol ban. We also included studies of flavored tobacco product bans due to their potential relevance in gauging compliance and product substitutability. RESULTS: The search identified 493 articles, of which 24 were included. Studies examined the effects of implemented menthol bans (n = 6), hypothetical menthol bans (n = 12) and implemented flavor bans that exclude menthol (n = 6). Menthol bans were found to reduce sales and increase smoking cessation with only partial substitution for non-menthol cigarettes. US smokers' reactions to a hypothetical ban indicate that about 25-64% would attempt to quit smoking and 11-46% would consider switching to other tobacco products, including 15-30% to e-cigarettes. Flavor ban studies indicate reductions in initiation of 6%. Ban compliance was high, but studies indicate that the tobacco industry and retailers have attempted to circumvent their impact via packaging changes and online sales. CONCLUSION: Our review finds that extending the US cigarette flavor ban to menthol products would promote smoking cessation and reduce initiation. This evidence supports further action by the FDA towards mentholated tobacco products. However, few studies have been conducted in the vaping era.
Authors: Andrew F Brouwer; Jihyoun Jeon; Steven F Cook; Bukola Usidame; Jana L Hirschtick; Evelyn Jimenez-Mendoza; Ritesh Mistry; Nancy L Fleischer; Theodore R Holford; David Mendez; David T Levy; Rafael Meza Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2021-11-03 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Elizabeth L Seaman; Nalini Corcy; Joanne T Chang; Dana Chomenko; Anne M Hartman; Deirdre Lawrence Kittner; Carolyn M Reyes-Guzman Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2022-10-04 Impact factor: 4.090
Authors: David T Levy; Rafael Meza; Zhe Yuan; Yameng Li; Christopher Cadham; Luz Maria Sanchez-Romero; Nargiz Travis; Marie Knoll; Alex C Liber; Ritesh Mistry; Jana L Hirschtick; Nancy L Fleischer; Sarah Skolnick; Andrew F Brouwer; Cliff Douglas; Jihyoun Jeon; Steven Cook; Kenneth E Warner Journal: Tob Control Date: 2021-09-02 Impact factor: 6.953
Authors: Wenxue Lin; Junjia Zhu; John E Hayes; John P Richie; Joshua E Muscat Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2022-08-02 Impact factor: 4.090
Authors: Erika Litvin Bloom; Andy Bogart; Tamara Dubowitz; Rebecca L Collins; Bonnie Ghosh-Dastidar; Tiffany L Gary-Webb; Wendy Troxel Journal: Ann Behav Med Date: 2022-01-01
Authors: Michael Kotlyar; Ryan Shanley; Sheena R Dufresne; Gretchen A Corcoran; Kolawole S Okuyemi; Anne M Mills; Dorothy K Hatsukami Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-10-07 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: David T Levy; Christopher J Cadham; Luz Maria Sanchez-Romero; Marie Knoll; Nargiz Travis; Zhe Yuan; Yameng Li; Ritesh Mistry; Clifford E Douglas; Jamie Tam; Aylin Sertkaya; Kenneth E Warner; Rafael Meza Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-10-07 Impact factor: 5.825