Division of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 May 31;26(Supplement_2):S143-S146. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad252.
Menthol cigarettes are disproportionately marketed and advertised in the commercial tobacco retail environment in Black communities across the United States, contributing to menthol cigarette-related disparities and lower likelihood of successful quitting among Black people who smoke. Policies restricting retail sales of menthol cigarettes are aimed at preventing initiation, promoting quitting, and reducing related disparities.
Structured phone interview surveys were conducted from January to July 2021 with commercial tobacco retailers in Los Angeles County, California, unincorporated communities with a high percentage of Black residents, eight months after a local policy restricting retail sales of menthol cigarettes and other flavored nicotine and commercial tobacco products became effective on May 20, 2020. Interviews examined menthol cigarette sales restrictions-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
Among 22 retailers interviewed, most (86.4%) reported having knowledge of the local ban on menthol cigarettes, and more than half (54.5%) reported offering price promotions for menthol cigarettes. Additionally, more than half (54.5%) reported believing customers who buy menthol cigarettes would stop smoking altogether following the ban.
Most retailers reported having knowledge of the menthol ban, yet half reported offering price promotions for menthol cigarettes. Findings suggest retail availability of menthol cigarettes in Los Angeles County unincorporated communities with a high percentage of Black residents, post ban. Public health and policy implications are discussed.
在美国各地的黑人社区，薄荷香烟在商业烟草零售环境中不成比例地进行营销和宣传，这导致与薄荷香烟相关的差异以及吸烟的黑人成功戒烟的可能性降低。限制薄荷香烟零售的政策旨在防止开始吸烟、促进戒烟和减少相关差异。
2021 年 1 月至 7 月，在加利福尼亚州洛杉矶县的非建制社区（黑人居民比例较高）进行了结构电话访谈调查，这些社区在 2020 年 5 月 20 日当地限制薄荷香烟和其他口味尼古丁及商业烟草产品零售的政策生效八个月后。访谈调查了与薄荷香烟销售限制相关的知识、态度和做法。
在接受采访的 22 家零售商中，大多数（86.4%）表示了解当地对薄荷香烟的禁令，超过一半（54.5%）表示对薄荷香烟提供价格促销。此外，超过一半（54.5%）的受访者表示，他们相信在禁令实施后，购买薄荷香烟的顾客会完全戒烟。
大多数零售商表示了解薄荷烟禁令，但有一半表示对薄荷烟进行了价格促销。调查结果表明，洛杉矶县非建制社区（黑人居民比例较高）在禁令实施后仍有薄荷香烟出售。讨论了公共卫生和政策的影响。
