Ford Allison, MacKintosh Anne Marie, Morgan Amber, Jones Daniel, Moodie Crawford, Hunt Kate, Angus Kathryn
Institute for Social Marketing and Health, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2024 Dec 23;27(1):152-156. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae168.
The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) 2016 require consumers in the United Kingdom to be informed about the presence of nicotine in vaping products. However, there is misunderstanding among some young people and adults around the strength of products. We examined how nicotine content is displayed on the front of vape packaging in the United Kingdom.
Between August and December 2022, we systematically analyzed a representative, stratified selection of vapes and refill packs (n = 156) on the UK market to assess TRPR compliance. This paper presents an analysis of free-text responses collected to indicate the presence of nicotine information on the front-of-pack including metric, percentage, graphic, and text indicators. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics produced for the sample as a whole and for five product categories.
Most packs (n = 126, 81%) displayed at least one front-of-pack nicotine descriptor, including the majority of disposables (n = 43, 90%), e-liquid (n = 42, 88%) and refill pods (n = 36, 100%). Many packs (n = 107, 69%) contained a nicotine-related metric (eg mg/ml), a quarter (n = 37, 24%) included a percentage indicator and most (n = 126, 81%) displayed at least one of these. Almost two-fifths (n = 57, 37%) mentioned nicotine beyond the warning. Less observed indicators included graphic and textual depictions of strength, dosage information, and an equivalent number of cigarettes.
The front of vape packaging communicates important product information to consumers. There is inconsistency in how nicotine content is currently displayed. Future research should examine how best to display nicotine content to promote consumer understanding and informed decision making.
This pack analysis of a representative sample of UK vape packaging highlights the varied ways in which nicotine content and strength are currently communicated to consumers on the front of vape packaging. The inconsistent presentation of nicotine content on the front of packs may contribute to misperceptions around product strength. A consistent and easily understood way of communicating nicotine content on the front of vape packaging may help consumers make more informed choices about vape products.
2016年的《烟草及相关产品法规》(TRPR)要求告知英国消费者电子烟产品中尼古丁的存在情况。然而,一些年轻人和成年人对产品的尼古丁含量存在误解。我们研究了英国电子烟产品包装正面是如何展示尼古丁含量的。
在2022年8月至12月期间,我们系统分析了英国市场上具有代表性的、分层选取的电子烟及烟弹补充装(n = 156),以评估其是否符合TRPR规定。本文对收集到的自由文本回复进行了分析,以表明包装正面是否存在尼古丁信息,包括公制单位、百分比、图形和文字指标。使用针对整个样本以及五个产品类别的描述性统计数据对数据进行了分析。
大多数包装(n = 126,81%)在包装正面展示了至少一种尼古丁描述符,包括大多数一次性电子烟(n = 43,90%)、电子烟液(n = 42,88%)和烟弹补充装(n = 36,100%)。许多包装(n = 107,69%)包含与尼古丁相关的公制单位(如毫克/毫升),四分之一(n = 37,24%)包含百分比指标,大多数(n = 126,81%)展示了其中至少一种。近五分之二(n = 57,37%)在警示之外提到了尼古丁。较少出现的指标包括强度的图形和文字描述、剂量信息以及等效香烟数量。
电子烟产品包装正面向消费者传达了重要的产品信息。目前尼古丁含量的展示方式存在不一致性。未来的研究应探讨如何以最佳方式展示尼古丁含量,以促进消费者理解并做出明智的决策。
对英国电子烟产品包装代表性样本的这一包装分析突出了目前在电子烟产品包装正面向消费者传达尼古丁含量和强度的多种方式。包装正面尼古丁含量展示不一致可能导致对产品强度的误解。在电子烟产品包装正面以一致且易于理解的方式传达尼古丁含量可能有助于消费者对电子烟产品做出更明智的选择。