Shannon Gravely1, Danielle M Smith2, Alex C Liber3, K Michael Cummings4, Katherine A East5, David Hammond6, Andrew Hyland2, Richard J O'Connor2, Karin A Kasza2, Anne C K Quah7, Ruth Loewen7, Nadia Martin7, Gang Meng7, Janine Ouimet7, Mary E Thompson8, Christian Boudreau8, Ann McNeill9, David T Sweanor10, Geoffrey T Fong11. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address: shannon.gravely@uwaterloo.ca. 2. Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, Department of Health Behaviors, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA. 3. Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, USA. 5. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Canada; Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK. 6. School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Canada. 7. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. 8. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Canada. 9. Department of Addictions, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, UK; Shaping Public Health Policies to Reduce Inequalities & Harm (SPECTRUM), UK. 10. Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Canada. 11. Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Some jurisdictions have implemented nicotine vaping product (NVP) flavor restrictions because of concerns about rising adolescent use. However, little is known how these restrictions may impact adult vapers. This study describes the level of support and predictive behavioral responses to a hypothetical NVP ban on non-tobacco flavors among regular adult vapers who only use flavors that would be banned. METHODS: Data came from 851 regular vapers (all current or ex-smokers) participating in the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey in Canada, England, and the United States (US). A random sample of respondents in each country received and completed the questions about flavor bans: (1) do you support or oppose a ban on all non-tobacco flavors; and (2) what would you do if all flavors were banned, with the exception of tobacco in the US, and tobacco and menthol in Canada and England. Those who used tobacco-flavored or unflavored NVPs were excluded from all analyses, and additionally, vapers of menthol flavor in Canada and England were excluded from Aim 2. RESULTS: Overall, 53.6% of vapers were strongly opposed to flavor bans, 28.2% were opposed, 9.3% were in support, 3.6% were in strong support, and 5.2% did not know. Predicted behavioral responses were: 28.8% would continue vaping an available flavor, 28.3% would find a way to get their banned flavor(s), 17.1% would stop vaping and smoke instead, 12.9% said that they would stop vaping and not smoke, and 12.9% do not know what they would do. Responses to a potential flavor ban largely varied by smoking and vaping status, and by the level of support of a flavor restriction policy. CONCLUSIONS: At this time, it is not clear what net population-level consequences would occur if non-tobacco flavored NVPs were prohibited. While a majority of vapers in this study opposed this policy, and many vapers would not be willing to switch to available flavors, there was considerable variability in predicted behavioral responses.
INTRODUCTION: Some jurisdictions have implemented nicotine vaping product (NVP) flavor restrictions because of concerns about rising adolescent use. However, little is known how these restrictions may impact adult vapers. This study describes the level of support and predictive behavioral responses to a hypothetical NVP ban on non-tobacco flavors among regular adult vapers who only use flavors that would be banned. METHODS: Data came from 851 regular vapers (all current or ex-smokers) participating in the 2020 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey in Canada, England, and the United States (US). A random sample of respondents in each country received and completed the questions about flavor bans: (1) do you support or oppose a ban on all non-tobacco flavors; and (2) what would you do if all flavors were banned, with the exception of tobacco in the US, and tobacco and menthol in Canada and England. Those who used tobacco-flavored or unflavored NVPs were excluded from all analyses, and additionally, vapers of menthol flavor in Canada and England were excluded from Aim 2. RESULTS: Overall, 53.6% of vapers were strongly opposed to flavor bans, 28.2% were opposed, 9.3% were in support, 3.6% were in strong support, and 5.2% did not know. Predicted behavioral responses were: 28.8% would continue vaping an available flavor, 28.3% would find a way to get their banned flavor(s), 17.1% would stop vaping and smoke instead, 12.9% said that they would stop vaping and not smoke, and 12.9% do not know what they would do. Responses to a potential flavor ban largely varied by smoking and vaping status, and by the level of support of a flavor restriction policy. CONCLUSIONS: At this time, it is not clear what net population-level consequences would occur if non-tobacco flavored NVPs were prohibited. While a majority of vapers in this study opposed this policy, and many vapers would not be willing to switch to available flavors, there was considerable variability in predicted behavioral responses.
Authors: James MacKillop; James G Murphy; Lara A Ray; Daniel T A Eisenberg; Stephen A Lisman; J Koji Lum; David S Wilson Journal: Exp Clin Psychopharmacol Date: 2008-02 Impact factor: 3.157
Authors: Robyn L Landry; Allison L Groom; Thanh-Huyen T Vu; Andrew C Stokes; Kaitlyn M Berry; Anshula Kesh; Joy L Hart; Kandi L Walker; Aida L Giachello; Clara G Sears; Kathleen L McGlasson; Lindsay K Tompkins; Delvon T Mattingly; Rose Marie Robertson; Thomas J Payne Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2019-08-02 Impact factor: 3.913
Authors: Roberta Freitas-Lemos; Jeffrey S Stein; Allison N Tegge; Brent A Kaplan; Bryan W Heckman; K Michael Cummings; Warren K Bickel Journal: Nicotine Tob Res Date: 2021-08-29 Impact factor: 4.244
Authors: Karin A Kasza; Kathryn C Edwards; Shannon Gravely; Blair Coleman; Heather Kimmel; Colm Everard; Maciej L Goniewicz; Geoffrey T Fong; Andrew Hyland Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2020-12-10 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Teresa W Wang; Linda J Neff; Eunice Park-Lee; Chunfeng Ren; Karen A Cullen; Brian A King Journal: MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Date: 2020-09-18 Impact factor: 17.586
Authors: Zongshuan Duan; Katelyn F Romm; Lisa Henriksen; Nina C Schleicher; Trent O Johnson; Theodore L Wagener; Steven Y Sussman; Barbara A Schillo; Jidong Huang; Carla J Berg Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 3.390