Implementation of a Comprehensive Flavoured Tobacco Product Sales Restriction and Retail Tobacco Sal
Saturday, June 19, 2021
Posted by: Natalia Gromov
Gammon
DG, Rogers T, Gaber J, et al.
Implementation of a
Comprehensive Flavoured Tobacco Product Sales Restriction and Retail Tobacco
Sales.
Tobacco Control Published Online First: 04 June 2021. doi:
10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056494.
Objective.
San Francisco’s comprehensive restriction on flavoured tobacco sales applies to
all flavours (including menthol), all products and all retailers (without
exemptions). This study evaluates associations of policy implementation with
changes in tobacco sales in San Francisco and in two California cities without
any sales restriction.
Methods.
Using weekly retail sales data (July 2015 through December 2019), we computed
sales volume in equivalent units within product categories and the proportion
of flavoured tobacco. An interrupted time series analysis estimated within-city
changes associated with the policy’s effective and enforcement dates,
separately by product category for San Francisco and comparison cities, San
Jose and San Diego.
Results.
Predicted average weekly flavoured tobacco sales decreased by 96% from before
the policy to after enforcement (p<0.05), and to very low levels across all
products, including cigars with concept-flavour names (eg, Jazz). Average
weekly flavoured tobacco sales did not change in San Jose and decreased by 10%
in San Diego (p<0.05). Total tobacco sales decreased by 25% in San
Francisco, 8% in San Jose and 17% in San Diego (each, p<0.05).
Conclusions.
San Francisco’s comprehensive restriction virtually eliminated flavoured
tobacco sales and decreased total tobacco sales in mainstream retailers. Unlike
other US flavoured tobacco policy evaluations, there was no evidence of
substitution to concept–flavour named products. Results may be attributed to
San Francisco Department of Health’s self-education and rigorous retailer
education, as well as the law’s rebuttable presumption of a product as
flavoured based on manufacturer communication.
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