Impact of Little Cigars and Cigarillos Packaging Features on Product Preference.

Ce Shang,Jessica Sobolewski,Kymberle Sterling,James Nonnemaker,Scott R Weaver

doi:10.3390/ijerph182111443

Abstract

Background: We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among young adult cigarette smokers in the period July–August 2018 to examine their preference for cigarillos in response to various packaging-related attributes, including flavor, flavor description, quality descriptors, pack size, and prices. Methods: A convenience sample of 566 US young adult cigarette smokers aged 18–34, among whom 296 were current little cigar and cigarillo (LCC) smokers, were recruited using Facebook ads and invited to participate in an online (Qualtrics) tobacco survey containing DCE and tobacco use questions. In the experiment, participants chose among two cigarillo products or “neither” (opt-out). Results: We analyzed preferences for LCCs using multinomial, nested, random parameter logit models. Results showed that young adult cigarette smokers preferred grape over menthol, tobacco/regular, and wine flavors; “color only” and “color and text” flavor depictions over text only; “smooth” and “sweet” quality descriptors over “satisfying”; and larger pack sizes and lower prices. Conclusions: Regulating packaging-related features will impact LCC choices among US young adult smokers. FDA regulation over these packaging-related features may impact LCC use among young adult smokers.

Highlights

Despite the success of tobacco control efforts to reduce cigarette smoking, cigar use in the US has steadily increased
If the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned grape, wine, and menthol flavors, the share of young adult cigarette smokers who smoke little cigar and cigarillo (LCC) would drop by 0.97%
If the FDA banned grape, wine, and menthol flavors together, the share of young adult cigarette smokers who smoke LCCs would drop by 0.97%

Summary

Introduction

Despite the success of tobacco control efforts to reduce cigarette smoking, cigar use in the US has steadily increased. Between 2000 and 2018, US cigar consumption increased by 114%, while cigarette smoking decreased by 46% [1]. According to 2016–2017 data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco Survey (PATH), 36.8% of 18–24-year-olds reported ever cigarillo smoking, 18.9% reported ever little filtered cigar smoking, and 3.3%. The prevalence of little cigar and cigarillo (LCC) use is concerning because cigar smoking exposes users to higher levels of nicotine than found in cigarettes and carries significant health risks [3,4]. As cigarette taxes and prices continue to rise, smokers may switch to smoke LCCs instead of quitting smoking, young smokers who are more price-sensitive than older adults [5]

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