School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.
O'Neill Institute for National & Global Health Law, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2022 Oct 17;24(10):1645-1653. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac078.
A ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars may reduce smoking and tobacco-related disparities.
We aimed to examine the response of current smokers to a hypothetical ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Current smokers were recruited online and reported the alternative products that they may switch to under a hypothetical ban, if they would try to obtain the banned products from illicit channels, and their support to the ban.
51% of current smokers would use nonflavored cigarettes and cigars as alternatives, 45% would switch to flavored heated tobacco products or e-cigarettes or quit smoking. 17% would try to obtain the banned flavored products from illicit markets. A majority of menthol only smokers opposed the ban. Daily smokers would be more likely to switch to nonflavored smoking, to try illicit market products, and were less supportive of the ban. Black smokers would be less likely to switch to nonflavored smoking and were more supportive of the ban. Smokers who used menthol cigarettes only would be more likely to switch to nonflavored smoking, less likely to try illicit market sellers, and were the least supportive of the ban.
In response to a ban of all added flavors for cigarettes or cigars, nearly half of the current smokers would quit smoking, largely by switching to nonsmoking products. However, smokers with more chronic use and those who used only menthol cigarettes would be more likely to switch to nonflavored smoking, diminishing the harm reduction potential. The ban may decrease the relatively higher prevalence of menthol cigarette smoking among Blacks compared with other groups.
A ban on the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars may decrease the prevalence of smoking because some current smokers may quit smoking and switch to nonsmoking products. However, smokers with more chronic use and those who used menthol cigarettes only were more likely to switch to nonflavored cigarettes or cigars, diminishing the harm reduction potential of the ban. Black smokers would be more likely to switch to products other than cigarettes and cigars thus decreasing their relatively higher prevalence of smoking compared with other groups.
禁止薄荷醇香烟和调味雪茄可能会减少吸烟和与烟草相关的差异。
我们旨在研究当前吸烟者对薄荷醇香烟和调味雪茄的假设禁令的反应。通过在线招募当前吸烟者，报告他们在假设禁令下可能转而使用的替代产品，如果他们试图从非法渠道获得被禁产品，以及他们对禁令的支持。
51%的当前吸烟者会使用非薄荷醇香烟和雪茄作为替代品，45%会转而使用调味加热烟草产品或电子烟或戒烟。17%会试图从非法市场获取被禁的调味产品。大多数只吸薄荷醇的吸烟者反对禁令。每天吸烟的人更有可能转而吸食非吸烟产品，尝试非法市场产品，对禁令的支持度也较低。黑人吸烟者不太可能转而吸食非吸烟产品，对禁令的支持度更高。只吸食薄荷醇香烟的吸烟者更有可能转而吸食非吸烟产品，不太可能尝试非法市场卖家，对禁令的支持度最低。
对于禁止所有香烟或雪茄添加口味的禁令，近一半的当前吸烟者将戒烟，主要是通过转而吸食非吸烟产品。然而，使用频率更高的慢性吸烟者和只使用薄荷醇香烟的吸烟者更有可能转而吸食非薄荷醇香烟，从而降低了减少危害的潜力。该禁令可能会降低黑人与其他群体相比相对较高的薄荷醇香烟吸烟率。
禁止销售薄荷醇香烟和调味雪茄可能会降低吸烟率，因为一些当前吸烟者可能会戒烟并转而吸食非吸烟产品。然而，使用频率更高的慢性吸烟者和只使用薄荷醇香烟的吸烟者更有可能转而吸食非薄荷醇香烟或雪茄，从而降低了禁令减少危害的潜力。黑人吸烟者更有可能转而吸食除香烟和雪茄以外的产品，从而降低了与其他群体相比相对较高的吸烟率。
