E-cigarette Industry Research Articles

E-cigarette market share by nicotine claims.

Nicotine forms (salt vs. freebase) and isomers (synthetic vs. tobacco-derived) are key characteristics of e-cigarettes that manufacturers manipulate, and "tobacco-free" claims may have served to attract new consumers and increase their intention to use. This study presents a snapshot of nicotine marketing claims for e-cigarettes using Nielsen ScanTrack data from brick-and-mortar stores. Market share was calculated as the ratio of unit sales of each nicotine claim category to the total unit sales of e-cigarettes during the four weeks ending 1-20-2024. We summarized the market share for the following six nicotine form/isomer category: 1) nicotine (77%), 2) nicotine salt (10%), 3) synthetic nicotine (2%), 4) zero tobacco or tobacco-free (2%), 5) zero nicotine or nicotine-free (0.03%), and 6) no claim or CBD/hemp/cannabis (9%). The market share of products that explicitly carried nicotine salt claims (10%) or synthetic nicotine or tobacco-free claims (2% each) was notable. This study informs regulatory authorities on the recent trend of nicotine claims marketed by the e-cigarette industry, which may be contributing to the use of these products or addiction to nicotine among young people and non-users.

How does the e-cigarette industry respond to tax adjustments? Evidence from China.

China enacted an excise tax on e-cigarettes in November 2022, which offers a distinctive opportunity to examine the industry's reactions to this fiscal adjustment. This study delves into the industry's pricing strategies following the introduction of the excise tax, facilitating a thorough assessment of the subsequent impact on market dynamics and the government's revenue streams. We developed a TaXSiM model specifically tailored for e-cigarettes in China by integrating the country's e-cigarette tax framework. Our approach involved leveraging market data obtained from a representative product, the RELX Phantom Series, to ensure the model's effectiveness and relevance. The excise implementation of 2022 significantly heightened the tax burden on e-cigarettes, marking an increase of approximately 150 RMB per device and 19 RMB per cartridge. Despite these financial pressures, electronic cigarette firms exemplified by RELX, strategically endeavored to sustain competitiveness. Their approach involved initially implementing a 'Razor blade model' and eventually a 'comprehensive under-shifting' strategy, which mitigated the health impact of the tax hike, resulting in a relatively minor decline in sales while amplifying the impact on tax revenue. However, this strategic pricing maneuver came at a cost, as it led to a substantial decrease in profits, and therefore expedited a reshuffling of the industry by compelling smaller brands to leave the market rapidly. To effectively curb the use of e-cigarettes through tax policies, it is advisable to relocate the imposition of excise taxes on electronic cigarettes to the retail stage. This shift aims to narrow the scope for industry-level pricing strategies. Furthermore, this approach should be coupled with the introduction of an additional specific tax, strategically crafted to accentuate the health-related benefits associated with the excise taxation on electronic cigarettes.

Nicotine information disclosed online by e-cigarette brands popular with young people.

E-cigarette use is most prevalent among adolescents and young adults - and there are often misperceptions about product risk. The purpose of this study was to determine what nicotine information is provided on e-cigarette brand websites. Based on national and local surveys, we identified 44 e-cigarette brands commonly used in the US by adolescents and young adults. For each of these brands, their associated websites were analyzed for disclosed nicotine information. Specifically, for each brand's website, we coded whether there was information on nicotine concentration (recorded if a numerical value was provided such as '5% nicotine'), nicotine form (free-base, nicotine salts, or not stated), and nicotine type (tobacco-derived, synthetically derived, or not stated). Coding allowed for both lay (e.g. 'nic salts') as well as scientific (e.g. 'isomers') terms. Of the 44 brands examined, all provided basic information on nicotine concentration (e.g. '5% nicotine'). However, 23% of brands did not disclose information on nicotine form (i.e. nicotine salt vs free-base), and 66% of brands did not disclose information on nicotine type (i.e. synthetic vs tobacco-derived). Overall, these results suggest that the e-cigarette industry is not fully informing its consumers about the nicotine in their products. Given that nicotine form and type have implications for e-cigarette addiction potential, these findings highlight a public health concern. There is a need for more comprehensive national regulations for mandating product constituents and emissions disclosures.

Awareness of electronic cigarette industry practices and their associations with anti-electronic cigarette attitudes among susceptible US young adults.

Public education exposing cigarette industry practices have been effective in changing attitudes and preventing smoking among young people. It is unclear how much young adults are aware of e-cigarette industry practices, and how this awareness relates to anti-e-cigarette attitudes. We examined demographic correlates of awareness of e-cigarette industry practices and anti-e-cigarette attitudes, and the association between awareness of these practices with anti-e-cigarette attitudes. A US sample of young adults aged 18-30 years who do not use commercial tobacco products but are susceptible to e-cigarette use were cross-sectionally surveyed through online panel services from August 2021 to January 2022. Respondents reported their demographics, awareness of cigarette industry practices, awareness of e-cigarette industry practices and their level of agreement with four anti-e-cigarette attitude statements. We used multivariable linear regressions to examine demographic associations and the relationship between awareness of e-cigarette industry practices with each anti-e-cigarette attitude, adjusting for demographics and awareness of cigarette industry practices. Generally, Hispanic and Black young adults (vs White) and those with <US$75 000 annual household income (vs ≥US$75 000) knew of fewer e-cigarette industry practices. Black young adults (vs White) and those with <US$75 000 annual household income (vs ≥US$75,000) also had lower levels of agreement with anti-e-cigarette attitudes. Awareness of e-cigarette industry practices (vs awareness of zero practices) were associated with stronger agreement with each of the four anti-e-cigarette attitudes. Public education exposing e-cigarette industry practices may promote anti-e-cigarette attitudes among susceptible young adults who do not use commercial tobacco products. Future research should investigate the utility of anti-e-cigarette industry messaging.

Youth’s exposure to and engagement with e-cigarette marketing on social media: a UK focus group study

ObjectiveElectronic-cigarettes (e-cigarette) are promoted creatively through social media and considering the potential influence of social media marketing on young people, we explored young people’s exposure to and engagement with social...

Research on the heterogeneity of technical innovation in the Chinese e-cigarette industry – rethinking the A-U model

PurposeUnlike traditional industries, the e-cigarette is an epoch-making innovative product originating in China and occupying an absolute competitive advantage in the international market. The traditional A-U model describes the laws and characteristics of technological innovation in developed countries. In contrast, the inverse A-U model depicts the process of “secondary innovation” in late-developing countries through digestion and absorption. This paper aims to find out that if the e-cigarette, as a “first innovation” industry in a late-developing country, conform to the A-U model or conform to the “inverse A-U model”.Design/methodology/approachThis paper takes the patent data of e-cigarettes from 2004 to 2021 as the research object, and uses Python’s Jieba segment words to divide product innovation and process innovation, and then uses statistical analysis methods to conduct empirical analyses on these data.FindingsThus, an improved A-U model suitable for the e-cigarette industry is proposed. In this model, product innovation in the e-cigarette industry appeared earlier than process innovation, but the synchronous development of product and process innovation is not lagging. The improved A-U model in the e-cigarette industry is not only different from the traditional A-U model but also does not conform to the inverse A-U model.Research limitations/implicationsIt is conducive to expanding and clarifying the theoretical contribution and applicable boundaries of the A-U model and has sparked thinking and exploration of the A-U model in e-cigarettes and emerging industries.Practical implicationsOn this basis, suggestions on the development path and countermeasures of the e-cigarette industry are put forward.Originality/valueBased on the e-cigarette industry, this paper takes patents as the research object and provides the method of dividing product innovation and process innovation, and proposes an A-U model suitable for the e-cigarette industry on this basis. By comparing the traditional A-U model with the inverse A-U model in latecomer countries, the background and causes of e-cigarette A-U model heterogeneity are analyzed from different stages and overall morphology. Based on this, the heterogeneity characteristics of e-cigarette innovation are summarized and sorted out.

Diverse e-cigarette regulations in the Asia Pacific: A health economic perspective.

Diverse e-cigarette regulations in the Asia Pacific: A health economic perspective.

Association of Vaping Identity and e-Cigarette Perceptions among Young Adults Who Vape

Background: In the U.S., 9.3% of young adults currently vape. However, little is known about how vaping identity (i.e., internalizing vaping as an important part of oneself) can influence young adults’ e-cigarette perceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between vaping identity and e-cigarette perceptions among young adults. Methods: Young adults who vape (N = 252, Mage = 24.7) were recruited to participate in an online survey assessing a trusted source of health information, e-cigarette harm perceptions, and intentions to abstain from vaping. We estimated associations between vaping identity on outcomes and the interaction of vaping identity and combustible cigarette use on outcomes. Results: Participants with higher vaping identity reported lower trust in government health agencies and a doctor, and higher trust in the tobacco industry and e-cigarette industry (ps < 0.05). Those with higher vaping identity also reported lower e-cigarette harm perceptions and intentions to abstain from vaping (ps < 0.05). Conclusions: Findings show that higher vaping identity is associated with greater trust in the tobacco industry, lower trust in health experts, lower e-cigarette harm perceptions, and lower intentions to abstain from using e-cigarettes. This suggests that efforts to reduce vaping among young adults may need to leverage messages that reduce the credibility of the tobacco industry and prevent nonsmoking young adults from developing a vaping identity.

U.S. young adults’ awareness of the Master Settlement Agreement and cigarette industry practices and their associations with electronic cigarette industry and health risk perceptions

BackgroundThe lawsuit that led to the U.S. Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) exposed the cigarette industry’s deceptive marketing practices, which changed population perceptions about the cigarette industry and helped prevent cigarette smoking. The cigarette industry now owns many electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) companies and make their own e-cigarettes. Given that the MSA occurred in previous decades, many millennial and generation Z young adults may not know about the MSA and the cigarette industry’s marketing practices. It is unknown whether awareness about the MSA and cigarette industry practices may influence these young adults’ e-cigarette industry and e-cigarette health risk perceptions, which may inform e-cigarette prevention efforts.MethodsCross-sectional data were collected from a U.S. sample of tobacco-naïve young adults, 18–30 years-old, susceptible to e-cigarette use (n = 1,329) through an online panel service in August 2021-January 2022. Participants reported their demographic characteristics, awareness of the MSA, awareness of cigarette industry practices, e-cigarette industry perceptions, and e-cigarette health risk perceptions. We examined the relationships between awareness of the MSA and cigarette industry practices with e-cigarette industry and e-cigarette health risk perceptions using multivariable linear regressions, adjusted for demographic characteristics.ResultsOverall, 36.2%, 24.1%, and 39.3% of participants had heard of the MSA and knew a lot about it, had heard of the MSA, but did not know much about it, and did not hear of the MSA, respectively. On average, participants were aware of 5.2 (SD = 3.0) of the 11 cigarette industry practices included. Hearing about the MSA and knowing a lot about it and awareness of more cigarette industry practices were associated with less positive e-cigarette industry and higher e-cigarette health risk perceptions, whereas having heard of the MSA but not knowing much about it was associated with more positive e-cigarette industry and lower e-cigarette health risk perceptions.ConclusionsFindings suggest that increasing comprehensive awareness of the MSA and cigarette industry practices may influence young adults’ e-cigarette-related perceptions, and may importantly prevent detrimental information gaps about the cigarette industry. Future research should investigate the potential impact of increasing awareness of the MSA and cigarette industry practices in changing e-cigarette-related perceptions, which may help prevent e-cigarette use.

An analysis of key stakeholder policy perspectives in the proposed e-cigarette regulations in New Zealand.

The use of e-cigarettes is increasing; New Zealand (NZ) has witnessed a rapid rise in consumption. Policymakers face a challenge to balance the impacts of regulation on those who use e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool while protecting people who do not smoke from the harms of e-cigarette use, particularly young people. Previous research has demonstrated varying perspectives on e-cigarette regulation according to different stakeholders and interest groups. This study examined key stakeholders' positions on the drafted legislation to regulate e-cigarettes in NZ. Using written submissions made during public consultation in 2020, we conducted a content analysis to determine levels of support for e-cigarette regulations. Submissions made by the e-cigarette industry and the health sector were included for analysis. The tobacco industry is heavily invested in ensuring that e-cigarettes continue to be promoted and available in NZ with minimal restrictions. On the contrary, health organisations supported the introduction of regulations to reduce marketing to, and use of e-cigarettes by youth and people who do not smoke. The industry opposes restrictions using similar approaches employed against tobacco control measures. Despite perceptions of division, the health sector is generally unified in support of e-cigarette restrictions. SO WHAT?: Policymakers must protect public health policies from commercial interests and be cautious of opposition framed as public health concerns.

A Comparative Analysis of E-Cigarette and Cigarette Posts on Instagram.

E-cigarette use has grown rapidly over the past decade and become a threat to public health. Marketing-especially through social media-has contributed significantly to this growth, which suggests that regulating content in social media will be critical in supporting efforts to reverse this trend. A content analysis was performed to compare 254 e-cigarette posts on Instagram with 228 cigarette posts on the same platform. The majority of e-cigarette posts were from e-cigarette companies (40.9%) and industry people (18.5%), whereas the majority of cigarette posts were from laypeople (76.8%). More e-cigarette posts than cigarette posts appeared to have a marketing intent (56.3% vs. 1.3%), and brand representation in photographs/videos was more frequent in the e-cigarette posts than in the cigarette posts (63.0% vs. 15.8%). Further, compared with the e-cigarette posts, the cigarette posts were more likely to portray daily life (73.2% vs. 41.3%) and humans (80.3% vs. 43.7%) in the photograph/video. The cigarette posts also portrayed smoking much more often than the e-cigarette posts portrayed vaping (67.1% vs. 21.3%). The study findings broaden the field's understanding of cigarette and e-cigarette content on Instagram and social media, and have implications for monitoring and regulating content for e-cigarettes and cigarettes.

E-Smoking out the Facts: The Philippines' Vaping Dilemma.

The Commercial Determinants of Health (CDH) have a major impact on the health of a country's population. The marketing and promotion of products and services by corporations, especially multinational businesses, can significantly impact individuals and communities, both positively and negatively. The vaping epidemic in the Philippines is an example of how commercial influences and government policies, in the context of disinformation, can exacerbate public health issues. The Philippines is facing a rising use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) among youth. We conducted a literature review in PubMed and Google Scholar to examine the state of vaping in the Philippines and the lack of research on the health implications of the growing e-cigarette industry. We also discussed the vape bill which lapsed into law - Republic Act 11900, which regulates e-cigarettes and transfers the regulatory power from the Department of Health to the Department of Trade and Industry. We outlined a call to action on three fronts: tailoring national policies, funding research, and improving health education in the youth. Policymakers must prioritize public health gains over economic benefits and consider the impact of their decisions on future generations' health choices.

Use of supporting evidence by health and industry organisations in the consultation on e-cigarette regulations in New Zealand.

ObjectivesScientific evidence to support the development of appropriate policy for electronic cigarette use is limited by rapidly changing technology and a lack of long-term data. Perceptions of risk and benefits determine diverse framings of the e-cigarette debate and complicate policy decisions. E-cigarette use by smokers who are attempting to quit may result in improved health outcomes, while their use among young people and non-smokers may lead to adverse health consequences. The purpose of this study was to identify the types of evidence used during public consultations on proposed revisions to New Zealand’s e-cigarette legislation in 2020.MethodsUsing submissions to parliament made by the tobacco/e-cigarette industry and the health sector, we assessed the cited evidence for quality and independence measured by publication type and tobacco industry connections. We identified themes from a sub-sample of frequently cited evidence to understand how stakeholders and organisations used evidence.ResultsThe sample consisted of 57 submissions from the e-cigarette and tobacco industry (n = 21) and health organisations (n = 36). A total of 442 pieces of evidence were cited at least once. Health organisations were more likely to cite peer-reviewed evidence (OR = 2.99). The industry was more likely to cite evidence outside of peer review and sources with tobacco industry connections (OR = 4.08). In the sample of frequently cited evidence, youth prevalence and flavours were the most common themes. In some cases the same evidence was used by both groups to support opposing policy positions.ConclusionsThe industry continues to rely more heavily on evidence published outside of the peer-review process, which is, therefore, subjected to less scientific scrutiny. By using a smoking-cessation or harm-reduction narrative, the industry could be seen as a legitimate stakeholder in policy development.

Consumer responses to corporate social responsibility communication from stigmatized industries: E-cigarettes and consumers’ use of persuasion knowledge

ABSTRACT Drawing upon JUUL’s CSR campaign cases that were intended to rebuild people’s trust during its vaping crisis, this study examined the effects of the e-cigarette company’s CSR and CA messages on consumers’ responses. Applying the Persuasion Knowledge Model, this study also investigated how consumers’ existing beliefs about the e-cigarette industry (i.e., topic knowledge) and specific e-cigarette companies (i.e., agent knowledge) influenced their evaluation of CSR and CA messages. An online experiment (N = 275) showed that CSR messages were more likely to generate positive consumer attitudes toward the company and product, as compared to CA messages. These effects were mediated by consumers’ persuasion knowledge activation and moderated by consumers’ perceptions of the industry and perceived corporate legitimacy.

Associations between perceived source credibility, e-cigarettes, and e-cigarette ad perceptions

The use of e-cigarettes among U.S. adults remains high, and aggressive industry advertising is a contributor. Consumer opinions of the e-cigarette industry’s credibility can influence e-cigarette product and ad perceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of perceived source credibility of e-cigarette ads and consumer attitudes toward e-cigarette ads and product use. In October 2021, we conducted a survey using an online convenience sample (N = 497, Mage = 31.9). Participants viewed two randomly selected e-cigarette ads and were asked questions regarding source credibility, perceptions of the ads, and e-cigarette use. Linear mixed effects models with random intercepts were used to estimate associations between perceived source credibility with perceived ad relevance, effectiveness, liking, product use interest, and e-cigarette harms perceptions. We also tested whether associations between perceived source credibility and ad and e-cigarette perceptions were moderated by e-cigarette use. Models controlled for cigarette smoking status, age, sex, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and income. Perceived source credibility was positively associated with increased perceived ad relevance, effectiveness, liking, and product use interest (ps < 0.001). E-cigarette use moderated associations of perceived source credibility and perceived ad relevance, perceived ad effectiveness, and interest in using e-cigarettes, with associations being strongest among never users. Findings suggest that tobacco control messaging aiming to reduce the credibility of the e-cigarette industry might be most effective among adults who have never used e-cigarettes.

Research on the Ecological Deconstruction of E-Cigarette Industrial Clusters in Shenzhen, China, and a Niche Analysis of Related Enterprises

As an emerging industry, e-cigarettes have been greatly prosperous globally in recent years. In China, Shenzhen is the center of e-cigarette production, and a complete business ecosystem has been built at this point. To explore the phenomenon of the agglomeration of e-cigarette enterprises in Shenzhen, the business ecosystem structure and evolution path of e-cigarette industrial clusters in Shenzhen (the Shenzhen e-cigarette industry) are illustrated in this study from an ecological perspective, and the development characteristics of the Shenzhen e-cigarette industry as well as the interspecies relationships among enterprises were studied based on the population life history theory. Eight representative firms were also selected here. Their patent information was collected and classified to investigate niche characteristics using Levins’ niche breadth and niche overlap index. The results indicate that, after a long-term evolution, the Shenzhen e-cigarette industry has preliminarily built a business ecosystem with a unique structure. The developmental process is accompanied by the transformation of the development pattern from imitation to innovation and the enterprise populations have achieved coevolution through mutualistic symbiosis. In the area of technological innovation, niche-widening and -separation strategies are employed by the e-cigarette enterprises. The above reasons explain the boom of the Shenzhen e-cigarette industry and why Shenzhen is becoming the center of e-cigarette production.

The Path of Legalization of E-Cigarette Supervision

In recent years, although people have paid more and more attention to the negative effects of e-cigarettes on people's health, and China has gradually strengthened the supervision of e-cigarettes in order to protect people, especially minors, from the infringement of e-cigarettes, the legalization of e-cigarettes supervision cannot be achieved overnight, and there are still some problems such as the lack of national industry standards, disputes over regulatory subjects, unclear classification management, etc. Therefore, China should speed up the introduction of industry standards, determine the regulatory body with the aim of protecting national health, especially the rights and interests of minors, scientifically define the categories of e-cigarettes and formulate different regulatory measures, so as to safeguard national health while taking into account the healthy development of the e-cigarette industry and stimulate the innovative spirit of private enterprises.

Associations of e-cigarette industry beliefs and e-cigarette use and susceptibility among youth and young adults in the United States

BackgroundAnti-industry sentiments are protective against smoking, but the relationship between industry beliefs and e-cigarette use remains unknown. MethodsA nationally representative survey of U.S. youth and young adults in Fall 2019 (n = 9554) assessed knowledge that e-cigarette and cigarette companies are the same, belief that e-cigarette companies lie about harm, and belief that tobacco companies want young people to vape. Weighted multivariate logistic regression models estimated odds of current use and susceptibility to use (among ever and never users) by industry knowledge and beliefs. Additional models assess association between industry knowledge and industry beliefs. All models controlled for harm perceptions, friend use, sensation seeking, combustible use, and demographic characteristics. ResultsDisagreement that companies lie about harm (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)= 1.94, 95% CI: 1.43–2.63) and companies want young people to vape (aOR=1.72, 95% CI: 1.36–2.17) was associated with increased odds of current use. Belief that e-cigarette and cigarette companies were different entities was associated with increased odds of current use (aOR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.12–1.88). Disagreement or not knowing that companies are the same was associated with lower odds of believing companies lie about harm (disagreement aOR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.27–0.52; don’t know aOR=0.47, 95% CI: 0.35–0.65) and belief that companies want young people to vape (disagreement aOR=0.36, 95% CI: 0.28–0.46; don’t know aOR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.42–0.68). ConclusionSimilar to cigarettes, e-cigarette industry beliefs were associated with current use among young people. Highlighting e-cigarettes’ connection to Big Tobacco may be an important strategy to prevent youth and young adult e-cigarette use.

Circumvention of COVID-19-related restrictions on tobacco sales by the e-cigarette industry in South Africa and comparative analyses of heated tobacco product vs combustible cigarette volume sales during 2018–2020

As a public health measure against COVID-19, South Africa restricted the sale of “tobacco, e-cigarettes and related products” for 5 months, ending on August 17, 2020. We examined marketing activities related to novel tobacco products (e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products) during this restriction. Using web scraping, we accessed data for 2661 e-cigarette liquids marketed online by South African vendors in June 2020. We also analyzed heated tobacco product volume sales (kits) using retail scanner data from Nielsen Company. The 2661 e-cigarette liquids assessed online comprised cannabidiol liquids, 28.8%[767/2661], nicotine salts, 10.4%[276/2661], e-cigarette juice concentrates, 14.1%[376/2661], nicotine-free e-liquid, 4.0%[107/2661], and nicotine-containing e-liquid, 42.6%[1135/2661]. Cannabidiol liquids had the highest percentage of fruit (78.4%[601/767]) and tobacco flavors (9.4%[72/767]). During the restriction, many online e-cigarette vendors actively promoted cannabidiol liquid in lieu of regular e-liquid. Nielsen retail scanner data showed that volume of heated tobacco product sales in February 2020, preceding the restriction (7.76 million kits), were higher than in February 2019 (4.52 million kits). The restriction saw decreased sales of heated tobacco products; mean weekly heated tobacco product sales in the 6 weeks following the restriction (772,585 kits/week) were dramatically lower versus the 6 weeks preceding the restriction (2.26 million kits/week). Lifting the restriction saw a 131% spike in sales between the latter half of August 2020 (825,638 kits) and mid-September 2020 sales (1.90 million kits), even though total sales in September 2020 were half of what was observed in the preceding year (3.81 million units in September 2020, vs 6.33 million units, September 2019). The marketing of cannabidiol and other novel products by e-cigarette manufacturers and the tobacco industry may encourage youth use; close monitoring is required.

The Value of Innovation in Tobacco Processing Products: An Evidence from Bandung E-Cigarette Industry

This research analyzed Tobacco Processing Products (HPTL) industry and its value of innovation using dimensions of innovation approach. We used qualitative method with interviews, documentation, and observation as the data collection techniques. Later on, we employed several business strategy tools: IFE, EFE, CPM, SFAS, SWOT, SPACE, IE, Grand Strategy, and QSPM. We found out that innovation strategy for tobacco processing products lied on the product innovation, especially in the taste of liquid vape products. Furthermore, by investing in the process innovation, especially in equipment and supplies, is key to develop sustainable product innovation.