E-cigarette flavors, devices and brands used by youth before and after partial flavor restrictions in the US: Canada, England, and the US, 2017-2020

TY - JOUR

T1 - E-cigarette flavors, devices and brands used by youth before and after partial flavor restrictions in the US: Canada, England, and the US, 2017-2020

AU - McNeill, Ann

AU - Hammond, David

AU - Reid, Jessica L

AU - Burkhalter, Robin

AU - Bansal-Travers, Maansi

AU - Gravely, Shannon

AU - Hyland, Andrew

AU - Kasza, Karin A

PY - 2022/6/21

Y1 - 2022/6/21

N2 - Objective. To examine the impact of US restrictions implemented in February 2020, prohibiting flavors other than menthol and tobacco in cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Methods. Five cross-sectional waves of the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Surveys, conducted online with youth aged 16-19 in the US, Canada, and England, were analysed for differences in usual e-cigarette flavor, device, and brand reported by past 30-day vapers (n=9,512) before (2017, 2018, 2019), during (February 2020) and after (August 2020) implementation of US flavor restrictions. Results. In August 2020, 78.7% of vapers in the US reported using a flavor prohibited in cartridges/pods, versus 86.3% in Canada (AOR=1.73, 1.25-1.40) and 79.8% in England (AOR=1.10, 0.78-1.55). Disposable e-cigarettes (exempt from flavor restrictions) increased to a greater extent among vapers in the US (13.2% to 36.8%), versus Canada (7.7% to 14.2%, AOR=2.01, 1.33-3.04) and England (10.8% to 16.4%, AOR=2.33, 1.52-3.57); Puff Bar (disposable) emerged as the most popular brand in the US. Conclusions. Usual flavors used by youth vapers in the US were unchanged after 2020 restrictions on cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Youth used brands and devices exempt from the restrictions.

AB - Objective. To examine the impact of US restrictions implemented in February 2020, prohibiting flavors other than menthol and tobacco in cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Methods. Five cross-sectional waves of the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Surveys, conducted online with youth aged 16-19 in the US, Canada, and England, were analysed for differences in usual e-cigarette flavor, device, and brand reported by past 30-day vapers (n=9,512) before (2017, 2018, 2019), during (February 2020) and after (August 2020) implementation of US flavor restrictions. Results. In August 2020, 78.7% of vapers in the US reported using a flavor prohibited in cartridges/pods, versus 86.3% in Canada (AOR=1.73, 1.25-1.40) and 79.8% in England (AOR=1.10, 0.78-1.55). Disposable e-cigarettes (exempt from flavor restrictions) increased to a greater extent among vapers in the US (13.2% to 36.8%), versus Canada (7.7% to 14.2%, AOR=2.01, 1.33-3.04) and England (10.8% to 16.4%, AOR=2.33, 1.52-3.57); Puff Bar (disposable) emerged as the most popular brand in the US. Conclusions. Usual flavors used by youth vapers in the US were unchanged after 2020 restrictions on cartridge-based e-cigarettes. Youth used brands and devices exempt from the restrictions.

KW - E-cigarettes

KW - Flavoured cigarettes

KW - restriction

KW - Youth

KW - vaping

KW - Vaping policies

M3 - Article

SN - 0090-0036

JO - American Journal of Public Health

JF - American Journal of Public Health

ER -