A tale of two cities: exploring the retail impact of flavoured tobacco restrictions in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota

Brock, Betsy; Carlson, Samantha; Leizinger, Alicia; D’Silva, Joanne; Matter, Christine M; Schillo, Barbara

doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-054154

Cited by 38 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…These results are consistent with findings from recent studies evaluating the impact of similar flavoured product restriction policies implemented in NYC and two cities in Minnesota 10 11. A notable strength of the present study is that it expands on sampling used in these studies to include a state-wide sample of retailers of all types and sizes, which for Q1–Q4 comprises a full sample of all retailers in the study communities.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…As of December 2018, 138 municipalities in Massachusetts, including Boston, have passed a flavoured restriction policy, covering 61% of the state’s total population 8. Policy evaluation studies conducted in NYC and in Minneapolis and St. Paul have shown reductions in sales of non-cigarette flavoured tobacco products in large retailers, pharmacies, grocery and convenience stores following policy implementation 9–11. However, it is not yet known whether these results extend to other localities or all types of retailers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of flavoured tobacco restriction policies on flavoured product availability in Massachusetts

et al. 2019

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of flavoured tobacco product restriction policies in reducing availability of flavoured products in Massachusetts communities.MethodsData were obtained from surveys of tobacco retailers conducted from July 2015 to March 2017. On a community level, flavoured product availability was defined as the per cent of retailers during a given 3-month quarter that sold flavoured cigars/cigarillos, electronic cigarettes and/or e-liquids. Communities that implemented the policy during the study period were grouped into wave 1 (n=18; 1481 retail surveys) and wave 2 (n=20; 483 retail surveys) by date of policy implementation; communities without a flavoured product restriction served as the control group (n=234; 4932 retail surveys). A difference-in-difference analysis was used to compare the change in flavoured product availability in wave 1 and wave 2 communities 3 months pre-policy and post-policy implementation to the change over the same time periods in the control group.ResultsFrom pre-policy to post-policy implementation period, communities in both waves experienced significant reductions in flavoured product availability (ranging from 27.2% to 50.9%), even after adjusting for community-level characteristics. In both waves 1 and 2, reductions in flavoured product availability were significantly greater compared with comparison communities during the same time frame, adjusting for community-level characteristics.ConclusionsCompliance with flavoured product restriction policies is high among tobacco retailers throughout Massachusetts, regardless of community demographic and retail characteristics. Reduced availability of flavoured tobacco in the retail environment has the potential to reduce youth exposure, access and use of these products.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of flavoured tobacco restriction policies on flavoured product availability in Massachusetts

et al. 2019

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“…Of the nine excluded studies, one study found that adolescents had a 37% lower odds of ever trying flavored tobacco products and a 28% lower odds of ever using tobacco products post ban [54], two studies found that sales of other tobacco products fell [55,56], and six considered compliance [57][58][59][60][61][62]. The studies of compliance indicated mixed levels of compliance, with flavor products still available in up to 50% of retailers that were not allowed to sell flavored tobacco and smaller stores often continuing to carry banned products with staff oblivious to the ban [58,[60][61][62]. However, compliance was found to increase over time following the ban [60] and was higher in areas where investments are made in the education of store owners and staff and when there was increased enforcement [59].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The actual and anticipated effects of a menthol cigarette ban: a scoping review

et al. 2020

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Background: The United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, banned characterizing flavors in cigarettes; however, mentholated tobacco products were exempt. Since 2009, over 20 US jurisdictions and numerous countries around the world have extended this restriction to menthol. Currently, the FDA is reconsidering its position on a nationwide menthol cigarette ban. However, the effects of such a ban remain unclear. We conducted a scoping review to explore the impact of a menthol cigarette ban on individual behaviors (initiation, cessation, and product switching), sales, and compliance. Methods: We conducted a search of the international literature using PubMed, EBSCO, and Web of Science (to November 25, 2019). We retrieved articles relevant to the impacts of an implemented or hypothetical menthol ban. We also included studies of flavored tobacco product bans due to their potential relevance in gauging compliance and product substitutability. Results: The search identified 493 articles, of which 24 were included. Studies examined the effects of implemented menthol bans (n = 6), hypothetical menthol bans (n = 12) and implemented flavor bans that exclude menthol (n = 6). Menthol bans were found to reduce sales and increase smoking cessation with only partial substitution for non-menthol cigarettes. US smokers' reactions to a hypothetical ban indicate that about 25-64% would attempt to quit smoking and 11-46% would consider switching to other tobacco products, including 15-30% to e-cigarettes. Flavor ban studies indicate reductions in initiation of 6%. Ban compliance was high, but studies indicate that the tobacco industry and retailers have attempted to circumvent their impact via packaging changes and online sales. Conclusion: Our review finds that extending the US cigarette flavor ban to menthol products would promote smoking cessation and reduce initiation. This evidence supports further action by the FDA towards mentholated tobacco products. However, few studies have been conducted in the vaping era.

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“…Prior work examining the impact of the 2015 Minneapolis and St. Paul flavoured (exempting menthol) restrictions found similar rates of compliance within 9 months of policy implementation. 15 In these cities, it is plausible that educational and enforcement activities by advocates and city officials associated with the 2015 flavoured restrictions, and ahead of the menthol tobacco sales copyright. Original research restriction implementation date, prepared retailers to adhere to the menthol tobacco sales restriction and resulted in relatively high rates of compliance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous evaluations of non-menthol flavoured tobacco sales restrictions have found that these types of policies can be effective in reducing the availability of flavoured tobacco products. [15][16][17] However, because menthol has often been excluded from sales restrictions, there is a paucity of published literature about the impact of menthol tobacco sales restrictions on the retail environment. We are only aware of one published study to date that examined the impact of a menthol tobacco restriction on the retail environment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Local sales restrictions significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco: findings from four Minnesota cities

et al. 2020

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BackgroundIn 2017 and 2018, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, Minnesota were among the first US cities to restrict the sale of menthol tobacco to adult-only stores. The study examined changes in the availability and marketing of these products following policy implementation.MethodsRetail store audits were conducted approximately 2 months pre-policy and post-policy implementation. Tobacco retail stores (n=299) were sampled from tobacco licensing lists in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, as well as six comparison cities without menthol policies. The presence of menthol tobacco was assessed, along with the number of interior and exterior tobacco ads and promotions at each store.ResultsThe majority of policy intervention stores (grocery, convenience stores and pharmacies) were compliant (Minneapolis, 84.4%; Duluth, 97.5%; and St. Paul and Falcon Heights, 100.0%) and did not sell menthol tobacco. In contrast, menthol tobacco was available in all comparison city stores, and most (96.0%) exempted tobacco shops and liquor stores post-policy implementation. Two Minneapolis convenience stores added interior tobacco shops, allowing them to continue selling menthol tobacco. Significant decreases in menthol tobacco marketing post-policy were observed in the stores’ interior in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth (p<0.001) and on the stores’ exterior in Duluth (p=0.023).ConclusionsFindings demonstrate high rates of compliance, indicating that sales restrictions can significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco. However, challenges to policy adherence underscore the need for continued monitoring and enforcement action.

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A tale of two cities: exploring the retail impact of flavoured tobacco restrictions in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota

Abstract: Policies that restrict the sale of flavoured tobacco to adult-only tobacco shops are associated with decreased availability of flavoured tobacco in convenience and grocery stores and increased proportion of tobacco inventory that is unflavoured.

Cited by 38 publications

References 10 publications

Impact of flavoured tobacco restriction policies on flavoured product availability in Massachusetts

Impact of flavoured tobacco restriction policies on flavoured product availability in Massachusetts

The actual and anticipated effects of a menthol cigarette ban: a scoping review

Local sales restrictions significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco: findings from four Minnesota cities

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