Flavour Restrictions on Vapes Boost Cigarette Sales

A new study titled “E-cigarette Flavor Restrictions’ Effects on Tobacco Product Sales” has revealed that restricting flavoured vapes (ENDS) has led to an increase in cigarette sales in the U.S. You may refer to the paper here.

The study tracked data from 44 states between January 2018 and March 2023. It focused on the impact of flavour bans on vape sales and cigarette purchases, revealing a concerning trend: as flavoured vapes became restricted, cigarette sales rose. On average, for every 0.7ml vape pod not sold due to flavour restrictions, an additional 15 cigarettes were purchased.

This unintended consequence highlights the potential downside of flavour bans, which, while intended to reduce youth vaping, could drive more people back to smoking cigarettes. The study suggests that the public health benefits of these bans may be outweighed by the health risks associated with increased cigarette consumption.

The findings call into question the overall effectiveness of ENDS flavour bans as a public health strategy.