Tobacco ControlPub Date : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057827
Joanna E Cohen, Beladenta Amalia, Wentai Luo, Kevin J McWhirter, Braden C Masanga, James F Pankow
{"title":"Eugenol, menthol and other flavour chemicals in kreteks and 'white' cigarettes purchased in Indonesia.","authors":"Joanna E Cohen, Beladenta Amalia, Wentai Luo, Kevin J McWhirter, Braden C Masanga, James F Pankow","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057827","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057827","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Flavoured tobacco products are not restricted in Indonesia, a country with about 68 million adults who smoke. Most use clove-mixed tobacco cigarettes ('kreteks'); non-clove ('white') cigarettes are also available. Although the use of flavour chemicals has been identified by WHO as promoting tobacco use, little has been reported for Indonesia about the levels of flavourants in either kreteks or 'white cigarettes'.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>22 kretek brand variants and nine 'white' cigarette brand variants were purchased in Indonesia during 2021/2022; one of the kretek packs contained three colour-coded variants, giving a total sample number of 24 for the kreteks. Chemical analyses gave the mg/stick (=mg/(filter+rod)) values for 180 individual flavour chemicals that included eugenol (a clove-flavoured compound), four other clove-related compounds and menthol.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eugenol was present at significant levels in all 24 kreteks (2.8-33.8 mg/stick), but was essentially absent in all of the cigarettes. Menthol was present in 14 of 24 kreteks, with levels ranging from 2.8 to 12.9 mg/stick, and in five of the nine cigarettes, with levels ranging from 3.6 to 10.8 mg/stick. Other flavour chemicals were also found in many of the kretek and cigarette samples.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this small sample, we found numerous variations of flavoured tobacco products offered by multinational and national companies in Indonesia. Given the body of evidence that flavours make tobacco products more appealing, regulation of clove-related compounds, menthol and other flavour chemicals should be considered in Indonesia.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11503103/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9743219","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 : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057760
Jenny E Twesten, Chad Stecher, Jim Arinaitwe, Mark Parascandola
{"title":"Tobacco control research on the African continent: a 22-year literature review and network analysis.","authors":"Jenny E Twesten, Chad Stecher, Jim Arinaitwe, Mark Parascandola","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057760","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057760","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Describe the landscape of tobacco-related topics, funders and institutional networks in Africa.</p><p><strong>Data sources: </strong>We searched PubMed, Embase and African Index Medicus for published articles from January 1996 to August 2018 in any language.</p><p><strong>Study selection: </strong>Two researchers independently reviewed titles and abstracts for a focus on nicotine or tobacco product(s) and describe data or recommendations specific to Africa. Ultimately, 818 articles were identified.</p><p><strong>Data extraction: </strong>Three independent coders conducted qualitative analyses of articles and extracted funders, study populations, countries of research focus, research topics, tobacco products, study design and data source. A bibliometric analysis estimated coauthorship networks between the countries of authors' primary institutional affiliation.</p><p><strong>Data synthesis: </strong>All 54 African countries were represented in two or more articles. The coauthorship network included 2714 unique authors representing 90 countries. Most articles employed a cross-sectional study design with primary data collection, focused on cigarettes and studied use behaviour. Few articles examined tobacco farming or interventions for cessation or prevention. The most frequently cited funder was the US National Institutes of Health (27.2%). A range of coauthorship patterns existed between African institutions with some coauthoring with one institution while others coauthored with 761 institutions in other African countries.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The literature review identified the need for implementation research for tobacco control interventions and policies, economic and development impacts of tobacco use research, and tobacco industry and tobacco production and farming research. Numbers of research collaborations between institutions in Africa vary, suggesting the need for regional institutional capacity building.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9373655","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 : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057871
Eve Taylor, Katherine East, Jessica L Reid, David Hammond
{"title":"Awareness and use of short-fill e-liquids by youth in England in 2021: findings from the ITC Youth Tobacco and Vaping Survey.","authors":"Eve Taylor, Katherine East, Jessica L Reid, David Hammond","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057871","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Refillable e-cigarettes were popular among youth in England in 2021. The UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations (TRPR) limits e-liquids to 20 mg/mL of nicotine in a 10 mL bottle. Short-fill e-liquids, which are not covered by TRPR regulations, are typically nicotine-free and come in larger, underfilled bottles allowing customisation with the addition of 'nicotine shots'. This paper investigates awareness, use, and reasons for use of short-fill e-liquids among youth in England.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data are from the online 2021 International Tobacco Control Youth Survey, comprising 4224 youth (aged 16-19 years) in England. Weighted logistic regression models investigated associations between awareness and past 30-day use of short-fills by smoking status, vaping status, nicotine strength vaped and participant demographics. Reasons for use were also reported.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Approximately one-quarter (23.0%) of youth in England reported awareness of short-fill e-liquids. Among youth who had vaped in the past 30 days, 22.1% had used short-fills in the past 30 days; use was most prevalent among those who were also smoking (43.2%) and those who reported usually vaping nicotine concentrations of 2.1% (21 mg/mL) or more (40.8%). 'Convenience of a bigger bottle' was the most selected reason for use (45.0%), followed by 'less expensive than regular e-liquids' (37.6%).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Awareness of short-fills was common among youth in 2021, including among those who had never vaped or smoked. Among youth who vaped in the past 30 days, short-fill use was more prevalent among those who also smoked and those who vaped nicotine-containing e-liquids. Integration of short-fill products into existing e-cigarette regulations should be considered.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10620100/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9756317","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}
{"title":"Extent of illicit cigarette sales in Nepal: findings from a retail survey.","authors":"Sangita Shakya, Anjana Lamichhane, Pranav Karki, Jaya Kumar Gurung, Pranil Man Singh Pradhan","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057619","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Increasing the tax on cigarettes is widely considered the most effective method to reduce its consumption. However, Nepal has a low cigarette tax as policymakers in Nepal are concerned about illicit trade of cigarettes if taxes are increased.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study employed a retail survey approach used in India suitable for countries with prevalent loose cigarette sales, with improved methodology. In 2021, empty cigarette packs generated in a day's loose cigarette sales were collected directly from cigarette retailers from 23 primary sampling units covering rural/urban, geographic divisions, border/non-border to India and tobacco factory locations. The central points of each primary sampling unit were identified, and retailers were selected for the survey. A cigarette pack was classified as illicit if it had at least one of the following attributes: (a) no authentic excise duty sticker, (b) no graphic health warning, (c) no mention of 'maximum retail price/MRP' and (d) no production date, name, address and trademark.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>We collected 4307 empty cigarette packs from 1204 retailers and 0.33% of them were classified as illicit. The estimates varied across location with the highest prevalence of illicit packs in Kathmandu (1.25%). All the illicit cigarettes were imported and were high-priced brands (>90%), mostly found in urban areas and not bordering India.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our estimate of the illicit cigarette market share of 0.33% suggests that the industry's statement of 25% is grossly overstated.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11503087/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10599221","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 : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057801
Kristen R Hamilton-Moseley, Timothy S McNeel, Kelvin Choi
{"title":"Cumulative cigarette discount coupon exposure and trajectories of cigarette smoking: a longitudinal analysis in US adults.","authors":"Kristen R Hamilton-Moseley, Timothy S McNeel, Kelvin Choi","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057801","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Exposure to cigarette discount coupons is associated with short-term increase in cigarette smoking; however, long-term impact is unclear. This study examined associations of cumulative exposure to cigarette coupons with trajectories of cigarette smoking in US adults.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were from the US Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study Adult Surveys (n=19 824; waves 2-5). We examined the number of waves participants received cigarette discount coupons/promotions during waves 2-4 and smoking behaviours at wave 5. Weighted logistic multivariable regression models were used, adjusting for wave 2 demographics and stratified by wave 2 smoking status.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among wave 2 adults who never smoked, each increment wave of exposure to cigarette discount coupons was associated with greater odds of wave 5 current smoking (adjusted OR (aOR)=2.09, 95% CI 1.24-3.52). Among wave 2 adults who smoked daily, each wave of coupon exposure was associated with lower odds of quitting smoking at wave 5 (aOR=0.67, 95% CI 0.62-0.73). Among wave 2 adults who had quit smoking, each increment wave of exposure was associated with greater odds of wave 5 current smoking (aOR=1.61, 95% CI 1.41-1.85). Additionally, women (vs men) and adults with lower socioeconomic status (SES) (vs higher SES) were more frequently exposed to cigarette coupons for a higher number of waves (p<0.05).</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Exposure to cigarette coupons exhibited a dose-response relationship with changes in cigarette smoking behaviours over time, promoting smoking progression and hindering smoking cessation especially among women and people with lower SES. Prohibiting these coupons can be an important tobacco control strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9617396","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 : 2024-09-25DOI: 10.1136/tc-2022-057905
Andrew F Brouwer, Jihyoun Jeon, Evelyn Jimenez-Mendoza, Stephanie R Land, Theodore R Holford, Abigail S Friedman, Jamie Tam, Ritesh Mistry, David T Levy, Rafael Meza
{"title":"Changing patterns of cigarette and ENDS transitions in the USA: a multistate transition analysis of youth and adults in the PATH Study in 2015-2017 vs 2017-2019.","authors":"Andrew F Brouwer, Jihyoun Jeon, Evelyn Jimenez-Mendoza, Stephanie R Land, Theodore R Holford, Abigail S Friedman, Jamie Tam, Ritesh Mistry, David T Levy, Rafael Meza","doi":"10.1136/tc-2022-057905","DOIUrl":"10.1136/tc-2022-057905","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>It is unknown how recent changes in the tobacco product marketplace have impacted transitions in cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A multistate transition model was applied to 24 242 adults and 12 067 youth in waves 2-4 (2015-2017) and 28 061 adults and 12 538 youth in waves 4 and 5 (2017-2019) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. Transition rates for initiation, cessation and product transitions were estimated in multivariable models, accounting for gender, age group, race/ethnicity and daily versus non-daily product use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Changes in ENDS initiation/relapse rates depended on age, including among adults. Among youth who had never established tobacco use, the 1-year probability of ENDS initiation increased after 2017 from 1.6% (95% CI 1.4% to 1.8%) to 3.8% (95% CI 3.4% to 4.2%). Persistence of ENDS-only use (ie, 1-year probability of continuing to use ENDS only) increased for youth from 40.7% (95% CI 34.4% to 46.9%) to 65.7% (95% CI 60.5% to 71.1%) and for adults from 57.8% (95% CI 54.4% to 61.3%) to 78.2% (95% CI 76.0% to 80.4%). Persistence of dual use similarly increased for youth from 48.3% (95% CI 37.4% to 59.2%) to 60.9% (95% CI 43.0% to 78.8%) and for adults from 40.1% (95% CI 37.0% to 43.2%) to 63.8% (95% CI 59.6% to 67.6%). Youth and young adults who used both products became more likely to transition to ENDS-only use, but middle-aged and older adults did not.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>ENDS-only and dual use became more persistent. Middle-aged and older adults who used both products became less likely to transition to cigarette-only use but not more likely to discontinue cigarettes. Youth and young adults became more likely to transition to ENDS-only use.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10533746/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10052068","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 : 2024-09-19DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058823
Michael O Chaiton, Siddharth Seth, Jolene Dubray, Robert Schwartz
{"title":"NRT use as a vaping cessation aid among youth and young adults.","authors":"Michael O Chaiton, Siddharth Seth, Jolene Dubray, Robert Schwartz","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058823","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058823","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142296165","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 : 2024-09-10DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058738
Reinskje Talhout, Adam M Leventhal
{"title":"Coolants, organic acids, flavourings and other additives that facilitate inhalation of tobacco and nicotine products: implications for regulation","authors":"Reinskje Talhout, Adam M Leventhal","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058738","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058738","url":null,"abstract":"To inform regulatory policy, this article summarises findings on inhalation facilitation from the ninth report of the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation. Some additives counteract the harshness and bitterness of tobacco and nicotine product aerosols, making them easier to inhale. Additives that promote inhalability may perpetuate and increase the use of inhaled tobacco and nicotine products, especially by young people. Thus, as a class, additives that facilitate inhalation are an important regulatory target to prevent tobacco and nicotine product uptake. We defined inhalation facilitation as modifications to products during manufacturing that enhance the sensory experience and (potentially) behaviours associated with inhalation (eg, deeper puffs, faster inhalation, larger puff volume, shorter intervals in between puffs and use episodes). Evidence review showed that: (a) menthol and synthetic coolants decrease irritation caused by aerosol constituents by activating sensory perception receptors (eg, cooling receptors) and may promote dependence in inexperienced users; (b) acid additives and sugars, which lower the pH of aerosols and shift nicotine from free-base to protonated salt forms, reduce harshness and increase blood nicotine yield; (c) e-cigarette flavourings perceived as sweet or fruity reduce subjective bitterness, increase attractiveness and may escalate use, although their effects on perceived harshness are inconclusive; (d) sugars in tobacco impart sweet sensations, but limited industry-independent data preclude strong conclusions for sugars’ roles in inhalation facilitation. Given these findings, WHO policy recommendations suggest that regulators might consider banning ingredients that facilitate inhalation in all commercial inhaled tobacco and nicotine products.","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142179956","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 : 2024-09-10DOI: 10.1136/tc-2024-058589
Jennifer M Kreslake, Jamie Cordova, Andrew B Seidenberg, Fatma Romeh M Ali, Barbara Schillo, Kristy Marynak
{"title":"Youth and young adult flavour expectancies for new ‘non-menthol’ cigarettes introduced following California’s ban on flavoured tobacco products","authors":"Jennifer M Kreslake, Jamie Cordova, Andrew B Seidenberg, Fatma Romeh M Ali, Barbara Schillo, Kristy Marynak","doi":"10.1136/tc-2024-058589","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2024-058589","url":null,"abstract":"Background Following California’s statewide law prohibiting the sale of flavoured tobacco products, some cigarette brands introduced new variants advertised as non-menthol, yet featuring design and text commonly found in menthol cigarette marketing. Methods Data are from the February–May 2023 wave of the Tobacco Epidemic Evaluation Network (TEEN+) national probability-based survey (aged 13–25 years). Respondents (N=10 217) were shown images of two (of four) ‘new non-menthol’ brand ads or packaging and two comparators (‘classic’ non-menthol and menthol cigarette brands). Respondents reported expected taste of each (no or any minty/menthol taste; ‘don’t know’). Multinomial regression models tested associations between predictors (age, gender identity, race and ethnicity, perceived financial situation, smoking status) and expectation of minty/menthol taste. Results Younger age was associated with expectations of minty/menthol taste, controlling for covariates. Respondents aged 13–17 years had greater odds of expecting minty/menthol taste than no minty/menthol taste for all tested new non-menthol brands (Camel Crush Oasis adjusted OR (aOR): 1.30, p<0.05; Camel Crisp aOR: 1.47, p<0.001; Kool Non-Menthol Blue aOR: 1.27, p<0.05; Kool Non-Menthol Green aOR: 1.43, p<0.01), compared to respondents aged 21 and older. Respondents aged 18–20 years had greater odds of reporting minty/menthol expectancies than no minty/menthol expectancies for Camel Crush Oasis (aOR: 1.35, p<0.05) and Kool Non-Menthol Green (aOR: 1.29, p<0.05) compared to those aged 21–25 years. Compared to non-Hispanic white respondents, non-Hispanic Asian respondents had greater odds of expecting minty/menthol taste than no minty/menthol taste for Camel Crush Oasis (aOR: 1.89, p<0.01), Kool Non-Menthol Blue (aOR: 1.88, p<0.01) and Kool Non-Menthol Green (aOR: 1.72, p<0.05). Discussion Younger age was associated with expectations of new non-menthol cigarettes having a minty/menthol taste. Results raise concerns regarding the potential appeal of these products to youth and young adults. No data are available.","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142223651","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 : 2024-08-30DOI: 10.1136/tc-2023-058513
George D Bakhturidze, Lucy Popova, Alexander Kirpich, Carla J Berg, Michael P Eriksen
{"title":"Smoke-free legislation impact on the hospitality sector in the Republic of Georgia.","authors":"George D Bakhturidze, Lucy Popova, Alexander Kirpich, Carla J Berg, Michael P Eriksen","doi":"10.1136/tc-2023-058513","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1136/tc-2023-058513","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Comprehensive smoke-free (SF) policies reduce secondhand smoke exposure and improve population-level health outcomes. However, some decision-makers heed the tobacco industry's argument that SF policies negatively impact the hospitality sector. This study examines the intermediate economic impact of the Republic of Georgia's SF legislation (effective since early 2018) on the hospitality sector in Georgia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Analyses used 2015-2019 hospitality sector data from Georgia's National Statistics Office. Simple linear regression models were conducted to examine the impact of Georgia's SF policy on economic indicators (ie, number of employees, food service facilities, hotels and international visitor trips; employee remuneration; production value; turnover; hospitality sector value added tax (VAT)).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Analyses indicated no negative impact on any of the economic indicators. Instead, from 2018 to 2019, the number of food service facilities, hotels and international visitor trips increased by 20%, 17% and 7%, respectively. Additionally, there were increases in the number of employees (9%), average employee remuneration (3%), production values (13%), turnover/total revenue (13%) and VAT (26%). Moreover, the economic indicator values during the studied period were strongly correlated with each other (p>0.95) and indicated a consistent and uniform improvement.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>After the SF legislation went into effect, the hospitality sector demonstrated significant growth and no adverse effects in the economic indicators studied. The findings underscore the importance of maintaining and enforcing SF policies in Georgia and expanding the evidence base for SF policies globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":23145,"journal":{"name":"Tobacco Control","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.0,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142112327","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}