Department of Health Promotion, Education & Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
Epidemiology and Health Services Research Unit-Morelos, Mexican Social Security Institute, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Oct 17;24(10):1635-1644. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac057.
Flavor capsule cigarettes are rapidly gaining global market share, particularly in Latin America; however, little is known about consumer profiles and perceptions since the diffusion of this product innovation has become more widespread.
This paper compares profiles and perceptions of smokers who prefer flavor capsule cigarettes and those who do not in Mexico. We analyzed data from six online surveys of adult Mexican smokers (n = 4488) from 2018-2020. Participants identified their preferred brand variety characteristics (no capsule; one capsule; two capsules), and reported perceptions of their brand varieties' flavor, smoothness, harmfulness, and whether they smoke to control their appetite. Separate multinomial logistic models regressed preferred cigarette type on sociodemographic and smoking-related variables, as well as perceived benefits on preferred cigarette type, adjusting for covariates.
Most participants preferred capsule cigarettes (single capsule = 47.5%; double capsule = 12.9%). Flavor capsule users reported that their preferred varieties mostly tasted like menthol/mint (59% of single capsule users and 23% of double capsule users), cucumber (12% and 27%, respectively) or berries (10% and 22%, respectively). Females were more likely than males to prefer either single or double capsule cigarettes (AOR = 2.26 and 2.01, respectively). Preference for flavor capsules was also higher among younger smokers, e-cigarette users, those who smoke less frequently, and those who recently tried or plan to quit. Smokers who preferred capsules were more likely than non-capsule smokers to perceive their cigarettes as smoother, less harmful, and to smoke to control their appetite.
The high prevalence of capsule use and widespread perceptions of the benefits of capsules over traditional cigarettes may help explain why tobacco control policies have not reduced smoking prevalence in Mexico.
Flavor capsules are rapidly growing in popularity in many countries around the world, including Mexico. This study found that more Mexican adult smokers prefer brand varieties with capsules (60%) than without capsules (40%), that flavor capsule use strongly correlates with menthol cigarette use, and that perceived flavors of capsules range widely. Flavor capsule smokers have more positive smoking expectancies (eg, lower risk perceptions, dietary control) than noncapsule smokers. Capsules appeal particularly to women, young adults, less frequent smokers, and those who recently tried to quit. Policies should consider banning flavors in cigarettes, including capsules and other filter innovations.
风味胶囊香烟在全球市场份额迅速增长，特别是在拉丁美洲；然而，由于这种产品创新的扩散变得更加广泛，关于消费者特征和看法的信息知之甚少。
本文比较了墨西哥喜欢风味胶囊香烟和不喜欢风味胶囊香烟的吸烟者的特征和看法。我们分析了 2018-2020 年来自六个在线成年墨西哥吸烟者调查（n=4488）的数据。参与者确定了他们喜欢的品牌品种特征（无胶囊；一个胶囊；两个胶囊），并报告了他们品牌品种的口味、光滑度、危害性的看法，以及他们是否吸烟以控制食欲。分别使用多项逻辑回归模型，根据社会人口统计学和吸烟相关变量以及对吸烟的感知益处来预测偏好的香烟类型，同时调整了协变量。
大多数参与者更喜欢胶囊香烟（单胶囊=47.5%；双胶囊=12.9%）。风味胶囊使用者报告说，他们喜欢的品种大多是薄荷/薄荷味（59%的单胶囊使用者和 23%的双胶囊使用者）、黄瓜味（12%和 27%）或浆果味（10%和 22%）。女性比男性更喜欢单胶囊或双胶囊香烟（AOR=2.26 和 2.01）。较年轻的吸烟者、电子烟使用者、吸烟频率较低的吸烟者以及最近尝试或计划戒烟的吸烟者更喜欢风味胶囊。与非胶囊吸烟者相比，喜欢胶囊的吸烟者更有可能认为他们的香烟更光滑、危害更小，并且吸烟是为了控制食欲。
胶囊的高使用率和对传统香烟的广泛认知，使人们认为胶囊的好处更多，这可能有助于解释为什么墨西哥的烟草控制政策并没有降低吸烟率。
风味胶囊在世界许多国家迅速普及，包括墨西哥。这项研究发现，与不含胶囊的香烟相比，更多的墨西哥成年吸烟者更喜欢带胶囊的品牌（60%），而不是不含胶囊的香烟（40%），风味胶囊的使用与薄荷香烟的使用密切相关，并且对胶囊的口味感知范围很广。喜欢胶囊的吸烟者对吸烟的期望（例如，风险感知降低、饮食控制）比不喜欢胶囊的吸烟者更积极。胶囊对女性、年轻成年人、吸烟频率较低的人和最近尝试戒烟的人特别有吸引力。政策应考虑禁止香烟（包括胶囊和其他过滤创新）的口味。
