Reactions to sales restrictions on flavored vape products or all vape products among young adults in the US.
While lower-risk users may be more positively impacted by such policies, other young adult user subgroups may not experience benefit.
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Despite increases in e-cigarette sales restrictions, support for sales restrictions and perceived impact on young adult use are unclear. METHODS We analyzed Feb-May 2020 data from a longitudinal study of 2,159 young adults (ages 18-34; Mage=24.75±4.71; n=550 past 30-day e-cigarette users) in 6 metropolitan areas (Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego, 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; i.e., e-cigarette/tobacco use, use-related symptoms/health concerns). RESULTS 24.2% of e-cigarette users (and 57.6% of non-users) supported (strongly/somewhat) sales restrictions on flavored vape products; 15.1% of e-cigarette users (45.1% of non-users) 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 vs. not at all likely to switch to cigarettes. Greater policy support correlated with being e-cigarette non-users (aR 2=.210); among users, correlates included fewer days of use and greater symptoms and health concerns (aR 2=.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 (aR 2=.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-cigarette-related health concerns. This research should be considered in future tobacco control initiatives.