E-cigarette Flavor Restrictions’ Effects on Tobacco Product Sales

Abstract

Over 375 US localities and 7 states have adopted permanent restrictions on sales of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”). These policies’ effects on combustible cigarette use, a more harmful habit, remain unclear. Matching new flavor policy data to retail sales data, we find a tradeoff of 12 additional cigarettes for every 1 less 0.7 mL ENDS pod sold due to ENDS flavor restrictions. Further, cigarette sales increase even among brands disproportionately used by underage youth. Thus, any public health benefits of reducing ENDS sales via flavor restrictions may be offset by public health costs from increased cigarette sales.

Keywords: Tobacco Control, Flavors, Cigarettes, E-Cigarettes,

JEL Classification: I12, I18