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. 2017;3(2 Suppl 1):S84-S93.
doi: 10.18001/TRS.3.2(Suppl1).9. Epub 2017 Apr 1.

Compliance with a Sales Policy on Flavored Non-cigarette Tobacco Products

Todd Rogers  1 , Elizabeth M Brown  1 , Tarsha M McCrae  2 , Doris G Gammon  1 , Matthew E Eggers  1 , Kimberly Watson  1 , Martha C Engstrom  2 , Cindy Tworek  2 , Enver Holder-Hayes  2 , James Nonnemaker  1
Affiliations

Compliance with a Sales Policy on Flavored Non-cigarette Tobacco Products

Todd Rogers et al. Tob Regul Sci. 2017.

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the effect of the New York City (NYC) policy restricting sales of flavored non-cigarette tobacco products on retail sales using a quasi-experimental comparison design. We also studied possible cross-border purchasing and product substitution by consumers.

Methods: We compiled retail scanner data for January 2010-January 2014 for NYC, a proximal comparison area (PCA) surrounding NYC, and the US. We used regression models to assess trends in sales of flavored cigars, smokeless tobacco (SLT), loose tobacco (RYO), and total cigars in all areas.

Results: Sales of flavored cigars (-22.3%), SLT (-97.6%), and RYO (-42.5%) declined following policy implementation (all ps < .01). Flavored cigar sales declined nonsignificantly in the comparison areas. An average 7.4% reduction in total cigar sales was seen in NYC following the policy (p < .01), as cigar sales increased 12% nationally, suggesting that NYC consumers did not substitute flavored cigars with non-flavored varieties.

Conclusions: Implementation of the NYC policy was associated with significant reductions in sales of all restricted products, both absolutely and relative to comparison areas. Despite persistent sales of flavored cigars, overall cigar sales in NYC declined following the policy, although more intensive enforcement is needed to ensure greater policy compliance.

Keywords: cigars; compliance; flavored tobacco products; public policy; tobacco policy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Statement The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by the US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products (contract number HHS-F223201310007B). The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the US Food and Drug Administration. The contents are the responsibility of the authors alone.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Unit Sales of Flavored Products (All Products Combined, Cigars, Smokeless Tobacco [SLT], and Loose [RYO] Tobacco) and Total Cigars (Flavored and Non-Flavored) in New York City (NYC, Panel A) and 2 Comparison Areas (the 10 Counties Surrounding NYC in the Proximal Comparison Area [PCA, Panel B], and the US, Panel C), January 2010–January 2014
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