Reactions to Sales Restrictions on Flavored Vape Products or All Vape Products Among Young Adults in the United States

• Published in: Nicotine & tobacco research 2022-02, Vol.24 (3), p.333-341
• Main Authors: Posner, Heather, Romm, Katelyn F, Henriksen, Lisa, Bernat, Debra, Berg, Carla J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Commerce; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Original Investigations; Tobacco Products; United States - epidemiology; Vaping - epidemiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1469-994X; 1462-2203; 1469-994X
• DOI: 10.1093/ntr/ntab154

Abstract Introduction Despite increases in e-cigarette sales restrictions, support for sales restrictions and perceived impact on young adult use are unclear. Aims and Methods We analyzed February-May 2020 data from a longitudinal study of 2159 young adults (ages 18–34; Mage = 24.75 ± 4.71; n = 550 past 30-day e-cigarette users) in six metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego, and Seattle). We examined support for e-cigarette sales restrictions and—among e-cigarette users—perceived impact of flavored vape product and all vape product sales restrictions on e-cigarette and cigarette use (and potential correlates; ie, e-cigarette/tobacco use, use-related symptoms/health concerns). Results About 24.2% of e-cigarette users (and 57.6% of nonusers) supported (strongly/somewhat) sales restrictions on flavored vape products; 15.1% of e-cigarette users (45.1% of nonusers) supported complete vape product sales restrictions. If restricted to tobacco flavors, 39.1% of e-cigarette users reported being likely (very/somewhat) to continue using e-cigarettes (30.5% not at all likely); 33.2% were likely to switch to cigarettes (45.5% not at all). Considering complete vape product sales restrictions, equal numbers (~39%) were likely versus not at all likely to switch to cigarettes. Greater policy support correlated with being e-cigarette nonusers (adjusted R2 [aR2] = .210); among users, correlates included fewer days of use and greater symptoms and health concerns (aR2 = .393). If such restrictions were implemented, those less likely to report continuing to vape or switching to cigarettes used e-cigarettes on fewer days, were never smokers, and indicated greater health concern (aR2 = .361). Conclusions While lower-risk users may be more positively impacted by such policies, other young adult user subgroups may not experience benefit. Implications Young adult e-cigarette users indicate low support for e-cigarette sales restrictions (both for flavored products and complete restrictions). Moreover, if vape product sales were restricted to tobacco flavors, 39.1% of users reported being likely to continue using e-cigarettes but 33.2% were likely to switch to cigarettes. If vape product sales were entirely restricted, e-cigarette users were equally likely to switch to cigarettes versus not (~40%). Those most likely to report positive impact of such policies being implemented were less frequent users, never smokers, and those with greater e-cigarett