Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059513
Maciej Albinowski, Piotr Lewandowski, Hana Ross
{"title":"Differential effects of tobacco taxation across educational groups: evidence from Poland.","authors":"Maciej Albinowski, Piotr Lewandowski, Hana Ross","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Assessing the impact of the recent excise hike in Poland, with particular attention to differences between tertiary-educated and non-tertiary-educated populations.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We use the nationally representative Household Budget Survey data from 2010 to 2022 to estimate changes in smoking behaviour in response to cigarette affordability at both the extensive and intensive margins. Combining these estimates with European Health Interview Survey data, we simulate the effects of excise hikes for smoking prevalence and consumption in 2025-2027.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We find that the less-educated population exhibits a higher smoking prevalence but is more responsive to cigarette affordability. For the non-tertiary-educated population, a 10% increase in the ratio of cigarette price to income, that is, a 9.1% reduction in affordability, lowers the probability of households buying cigarettes by 0.61 percentage points (pp), translating into 2.2% fewer smokers. For the tertiary-educated population, such a decline in affordability reduces the probability of buying cigarettes by 0.24 pp and the number of smokers by 1.1%. The reduction of consumption volume among continuing smokers is also larger among the non-tertiary-educated population. We estimate that the excise tax roadmap adopted in 2024, securing a 21% tax increase by 2027, will reduce the number of smokers in Poland by about 250 000, reduce overall cigarette consumption by 8.4% and increase excise revenue by 10.9%.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In Poland, increases in the cigarette excise tax will reduce smoking prevalence and consumption volume mainly among the non-tertiary-educated population. Non-economic factors appear to primarily drive the decline in smoking prevalence among tertiary-educated people.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145006553","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-09-02DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059391
Aizhan Kyzayeva, Martin Shaw, Jill Pell, Alastair H Leyland, Deborah A Lawlor, Rachel Joyce Kearns, Scott M Nelson
{"title":"Effect of comprehensive tobacco control policies on maternal and child outcomes: a population-based linkage study.","authors":"Aizhan Kyzayeva, Martin Shaw, Jill Pell, Alastair H Leyland, Deborah A Lawlor, Rachel Joyce Kearns, Scott M Nelson","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059391","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess the impact of comprehensive tobacco control policies on maternal smoking during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes over a 20-year period.</p><p><strong>Design: </strong>Population-based cohort study using linked Scottish National Health Service. We assessed the impact of tobacco control measures on maternal smoking and perinatal outcomes over four distinct time periods. Step and slope changes in risk were evaluated using multivariable Poisson regression models with robust errors to determine immediate and sustained effects.</p><p><strong>Setting: </strong>All Scottish National Health Service hospitals.</p><p><strong>Participants: </strong>919 324 singleton births between 24<sup>+0</sup> and 44<sup>+6</sup> weeks gestation, spanning 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2019.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Tobacco control policies were introduced progressively over four periods. Period A (2000-2002) served as the reference. Period B (2002-2006) introduced advertising restrictions, including bans on tobacco sponsorship and product displays. Period C (2006-2016) incorporated smoke-free legislation, prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces. Period D (2016-2019) introduced further legislative measures, bans on smoking in vehicles carrying children and enhanced taxation policies.</p><p><strong>Main outcome measures: </strong>Maternal smoking, small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth, preterm births and pre-eclampsia.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Comprehensive measures were associated with a reduction in maternal smoking (step change relative risk (RR)<sub>A to D</sub> 0.73 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.75), which was sustained over time (slope RR<sub>A to D</sub> 0.97 (95% CI 0.95 to 0.99)). There were also reductions in pre-eclampsia (slope RR<sub>A to D</sub> 0.88 (95% CI 0.80 to 0.96), SGA (slope RR<sub>A to D</sub> 0.94 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.97). While preterm births increased (primarily iatrogenic), and stillbirth rates declined, these trends were not directly attributable to tobacco control measures.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Comprehensive tobacco control measures were associated with reduction in maternal smoking during pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and SGA, underscoring their potential to improve perinatal outcomes and supporting the global implementation of WHO-recommended tobacco-control strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059489
S M Abdullah, Hannah Maria Jennings, Samina Huque, Mona Kanaan, Rumana Huque, Kamran Siddiqi
{"title":"'Local government, standardised packaging, and licensing are key': a stakeholder-based qualitative study on strengthening smokeless tobacco regulation in Bangladesh.","authors":"S M Abdullah, Hannah Maria Jennings, Samina Huque, Mona Kanaan, Rumana Huque, Kamran Siddiqi","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059489","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Smokeless tobacco (ST) use is widespread and poses a considerable health burden for Bangladesh. However, the tobacco control law enforcement for ST is significantly weaker than for smoking tobacco, leading to a near-total non-compliance of ST products. We explored tobacco control stakeholders' perspectives on high ST non-compliance, in order to improve regulation in Bangladesh.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative study involving in-depth semistructured interviews (n=20) with five stakeholder groups (policymakers, non-governmental organisations, researchers, international agencies and advocacy networks) between July and September 2024. Participants were asked about their perspectives on regulatory non-compliance of ST, policies and enforcement mechanisms, and supply chain control and international collaboration to address ST non-compliance in Bangladesh. We used the framework approach to analyse the data, which involved iteratively coding, charting and interpreting the interview transcripts.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Stakeholders perceived weak monitoring and enforcement of ST, leading to substantial non-compliance of ST regulation in Bangladesh. Factors such as market's informality, cultural embedment and lack of registration and licensing of ST businesses contributed to this. A disjointed regulatory framework and perceived low tax return made ST non-compliance a low priority for regulators. Furthermore, diversity in packaging and targeting of consumers' social and cultural beliefs by the manufacturers made ST compliance more challenging than cigarettes. Widespread tax evasion arises from a flawed self-declarations system and a lack of explicit tax markers due to regulatory weaknesses and manufacturers' influence. Bangladesh's current legal framework fails to address ST product diversity. Participants suggested introducing standardised packaging and licensing with local government involvement to strengthen regulations and address ST non-compliance.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>ST control has long been neglected by policymakers in Bangladesh. Besides government commitment, strengthening regulation to address high ST non-compliance would require implementing evidence-based approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059387
Kevin R J Schroth, Marisa Tomaino, Nishi J Gonsalves, Aleksandra Blinova, Vidhatri Khadke, Christopher Ackerman, Cristine D Delnevo
{"title":"Cigarette trafficking in New York City: now and then.","authors":"Kevin R J Schroth, Marisa Tomaino, Nishi J Gonsalves, Aleksandra Blinova, Vidhatri Khadke, Christopher Ackerman, Cristine D Delnevo","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059387","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059387","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>In the USA, every state imposes an excise tax for cigarettes, and virtually all states require tax stamps. Because cigarette taxes vary widely, traffickers smuggle cigarettes from states with low cigarette taxes into high-tax states to sell them illicitly for profits. With high cigarette taxes and roughly 565 000 adults who smoke, New York City (NYC) is an epicentre for the illicit trade of cigarettes. This study of littered packs of cigarettes in NYC provides a timely update to prior studies given three developments. First, New York State increased its cigarette tax in 2023. Second, NYC implemented laws to combat cigarette tax evasion. Third, adult smoking rates have declined, and with the popularity of electronic cigarettes, a more diverse tobacco marketplace has emerged.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Studies of littered packs of cigarettes examine tax stamps, or their absence, to ascertain the states from which littered packs originated. In this study, data collectors picked up littered cigarette packs in 30 census tracts across NYC's five boroughs. To facilitate comparisons over time, this study replicated the methodology used by several previous studies.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study found that in 2024, the percentage of littered packs bearing the proper NYC tax stamp declined to 16.6%. Georgia surpassed Virginia as the primary source of littered cigarettes. Packs with no stamp increased, rivalling Virginia as the second most common type of littered packs. Last, Newport's menthol cigarettes were the dominant brand. Declining smoking rates suggest NYC's tobacco control policy has made progress. However, the persistence of illicit trade suggests additional interventions should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-24DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059422
Jerzy Eisenberg-Guyot, Melanie Baker, Andrea R Titus, Elle Anastasiou Pesante, Byoungjun Kim, Akhgar Ghassabian, Lorna E Thorpe
{"title":"Effects of a federal smoke-free housing policy on adverse birth outcomes among NYC public-housing residents.","authors":"Jerzy Eisenberg-Guyot, Melanie Baker, Andrea R Titus, Elle Anastasiou Pesante, Byoungjun Kim, Akhgar Ghassabian, Lorna E Thorpe","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059422","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2025-059422","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Identifying strategies to mitigate the effects of secondhand smoke exposure is crucial for public health. Thus, we estimated the effect of a 2018 federal smoke-free housing (SFH) policy on adverse birth outcomes among New York City (NYC) public-housing residents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We obtained data on all live births to NYC residents in NYC from 2013 to 2022, using the borough-block-lot of the birthing person's address to identify births to public-housing residents. We then estimated the effect of the SFH policy on risk of preterm birth or low birth weight among births to NYC public-housing residents using a linear-probability difference-in-differences estimator, weighted by inverse probability weights to increase the plausibility of the parallel-trends assumption.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our sample included 44 455 births to public-housing residents and 803 648 births to non-public-housing residents. Difference-in-difference analyses suggested the SFH policy did not affect risk of preterm birth (risk difference (RD) per 100: 0.1; 95% CI -0.6 to 0.9) or low birth weight (RD per 100: 0.3, 95% CI -0.4 to 1.0). Event-study analyses supported these findings and lent credibility to the parallel-trends assumption.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>We estimated no initial effects of a federal SFH policy on risk of preterm birth or low birth weight among births to NYC public-housing residents.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12468346/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059626
Corné Van Walbeek, Samantha Filby
{"title":"Tobacco tax policy in South Africa: what went wrong and lessons for other countries.","authors":"Corné Van Walbeek, Samantha Filby","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059626","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059626","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 1994, South Africa emerged as a leader in tobacco taxation among middle-income countries. From 1994 to 2009, sharp excise-tax increases, complemented by progressive tobacco-control legislation, led to major declines in smoking and significant revenue gains. However, since 2010, many of these gains have been reversed. The entry of small, locally based tobacco companies disrupted a previously stable market and contributed to a surge in illicit trade. Institutional failures, exacerbated by the tobacco industry's underhanded tactics, at the South African Revenue Service between 2014 and 2018, and the industry's conduct during the 20-week tobacco sales ban in 2020, further entrenched the illicit market. Since 2020, more than half of all cigarettes sold in South Africa are illicit, severely undermining tobacco taxation and other tobacco-control attempts. This paper offers a historical perspective on tobacco taxation in South Africa, to highlight lessons for other countries. It demonstrates that while well-designed tax policy can yield major health and revenue benefits, sustained success requires vigilance. An excise tax approach that targets tax incidence (ie, total taxes as a percentage of the retail price) must account for industry pricing strategies and allow for timely policy adjustments. Long-term effectiveness also hinges on strong enforcement, transparent supply chain regulation and safeguarding policy processes from industry influence. Across all aspects of tax policy, South Africa's experience underscores the need for governments to remain alert to an industry that will exploit any weakness for profit. Complacency can swiftly undo years of progress.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Tobacco control policies in Vietnam: a qualitative analysis of the experiences of men who smoke.","authors":"Thi Ngoc Phuong Nguyen, Thu Trang Vu, Jesper Love, Nawi Ng, Minh Van Hoang, Monica Hunsberger","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-059255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In 2012, the Vietnamese government launched its first national tobacco control law, incorporating both demand- and supply-reduction policies. Yet, how people who smoke experience these policies remains unclear. This study explored the experiences of men who currently and formerly smoked cigarettes with existing tobacco control policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a qualitative focus group study with men who currently and formerly smoked cigarettes. Participants were recruited from two districts of Hanoi, one urban and one mountainous/rural area. Nine focus group discussions were held with 51 individuals (mean age 44 years old, 35 smoked daily, 4 smoked occasionally and 12 smoked formerly), using a semi-structured guide. Findings were analysed using manifest content analysis with an inductive approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The analysis identified three main categories: health warnings shift attitudes towards smoking; inconsistent enforcement undermines compliance; and persistent barriers to behaviour change. Participants described how health warnings prompted them to reconsider their smoking habits, while also highlighting barriers in translating policy awareness into sustained behavioural change.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Men who smoke in Vietnam described a nuanced interplay between awareness of tobacco control policies and their behavioural responses. Their narratives revealed a gap between recognising policies and experiencing their implementation in daily life. These challenges underscore the need for stronger enforcement of smoke-free environments, stricter regulation on youth tobacco access, increased cigarette taxation and culturally tailored, continuous public education campaigns. A comprehensive approach addressing both individual and systemic barriers is essential to advancing smoking cessation efforts in Vietnam.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-21DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059515
Trent O Johnson, Nora Satybaldiyeva, Nina C Schleicher, Mary Hrywna, Lisa Henriksen
{"title":"Cigarette and cigarillo ads promote 'flavour' in a US state that prohibits flavoured tobacco sales.","authors":"Trent O Johnson, Nora Satybaldiyeva, Nina C Schleicher, Mary Hrywna, Lisa Henriksen","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059515","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2025-059515","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12479047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-21DOI: 10.1136/tc-2025-059523
Yoonsang Kim, Alex Kresovich, Simon Page, Hy Tran, Sherry L Emery, Ganna Kostygina
{"title":"Copromotion across commercial determinants of health: content analysis of smokeless tobacco social media messages referencing alcohol, 2016-2021.","authors":"Yoonsang Kim, Alex Kresovich, Simon Page, Hy Tran, Sherry L Emery, Ganna Kostygina","doi":"10.1136/tc-2025-059523","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2025-059523","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The goal of this study is to analyse the amount and content of alcohol-themed smokeless tobacco (ATST) messages on social media, characterise major themes and identify key sources of these messages. These insights are crucial for understanding the tobacco and alcohol industries' marketing strategies and informing effective tobacco control policies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analysed 777 336 smokeless tobacco-relevant tweets from August 2016 to October 2021 and identified 36 804 (4.7%) ATST tweets. Three types of accounts that generated ATST tweets were detected using machine learning techniques: commercial, bot and regular users. The content analysis categorised major themes and examined language patterns of ATST messages posted by the most active accounts.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>ATST content was dominated by culture/lifestyle themes (71.8%) (eg, rural/country culture), followed by couse patterns (14.0%) and alcohol flavour references (4.3%). Commercial accounts contributed 4.9% of ATST tweets, and top commercial accounts showed patterns of coordinated posting activity, with identical promotional content for smokeless tobacco accessories and alcohol-themed hashtags featured across accounts. Bot accounts contributed 4% of ATST content. Commercial and bot account reach exceeded regular user account followership.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our analysis of ATST content on X/Twitter revealed the evidence of strategic comarketing of smokeless and alcohol products, specifically coordinated activities leveraging cultural narratives to normalise substance use. Social media's unregulated space facilitates cross-substance promotion, linking smokeless tobacco with alcohol through strategic product placement and lifestyle associations. These findings highlight the need for new prevention and regulatory approaches to address cross-substance marketing, including social media-specific policies to restrict coordinated promotion of harmful products.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144970377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2025-08-19DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-059047
Arzoo Alam, Lisa Henriksen, Trent O Johnson, Judith J Prochaska, Nina Schleicher
{"title":"Early assessment of compliance with California's flavoured tobacco sales prohibition: evidence from vape shops.","authors":"Arzoo Alam, Lisa Henriksen, Trent O Johnson, Judith J Prochaska, Nina Schleicher","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-059047","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2024-059047","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>In December 2022, California became the second US state to prohibit the sale of most flavoured tobacco/nicotine products. To our knowledge, this is the first observational study to assess violations of California's law. It reports on the availability of flavoured vape products in vape shops and tests whether flavoured vape products were more common in vape shops nearer to college campuses compared with those farther from college campuses, adjusting for neighbourhood demographics.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between April and July 2023, observations were recorded at vape shops (n=400) nearer to (≤3 miles) or farther from (>3 miles) a college campus. Vape shops were the focus of this study because a large proportion (48.2%) of US young adults purchase vapes from these venues. Availability of any disposable nicotine vapes, JUUL pods and flavoured varieties of these products were recorded. Multivariable logistic regressions tested relationships between flavoured product availability, proximity to a college campus and store neighbourhood demographics.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In violation of California's law, flavoured disposable vapes and/or JUUL pods were available in 50.3% of all vape shops studied. Flavoured disposable vapes were in 53.2% of vape shops with any disposable vapes, and flavoured JUUL pods were in 30.9% of vape shops with any JUUL pods. Contrary to expectation, no significant relationships were identified between the availability of flavoured vapes and proximity to a college campus or store neighbourhood demographics.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study revealed high rates of violations among vape shops within 4 to 7 months after the implementation of California's law. Efforts to improve retailer education and enforcement are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143773391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}