Realizing the Tobacco Endgame: Understanding and mobilizing public support for banning combustible cigarette sales in the United States

Abstract

BackgroundThere is little research on public support for banning the sale and purchase of combustible cigarettes even though a ban is an essential step towards achieving the endgame for tobacco products. PurposeWe report the first studies designed to (a) examine predictors of support for a ban (Study 1), and (b) test interventions to increase such support (Studies 2–4). MethodsIn Study 1, current, former, and never smokers (N = 479) were randomized to conditions measuring their willingness to ban the sale of cigarettes vs. an unspecified product. Smokers were randomized to a persuasive communication in Study 2 and a paradoxical thinking intervention in Study 3 (Ns = 300 and 302, respectively). In Study 4 (N = 336), we randomized smokers to self-persuasion and issue-framing interventions. ResultsWhereas nonsmokers were willing to ban the sale of both cigarettes and equivalent products, current and former smokers exempted cigarettes from a ban. Reactance to prohibition and perceived effectiveness predicted willingness to ban cigarette sales in all three smoking status groups (Study 1). Neither persuasive communication nor paradoxical thinking increased support for banning cigarette sales in Studies 2–3. However, self-persuasion and framing the ban as “protecting Americans from avoidable harm” both led to increased support for banning cigarette sales (Study 4). ConclusionsReactance and doubt about the effectiveness of banning the sale of cigarettes are key barriers to supporting a ban. Self-persuasion and issue framing may be effective means of mobilizing policy support among smokers. The present research offers new insights relevant to promoting the “Tobacco Endgame” and helps specify directions for future research on public support for health policies.