Effects of Flavor Ban on E-Cigarette Users

A study published in Tobacco Control revealed that out of 3,500 adult e-cigarette users surveyed, less than 5% quit smoking due to bans. Instead, the majority of respondents turned to other tobacco products not covered by the ban or different flavors of e-cigarettes.

An increasing body of literature suggests that the flavorings in e-cigarettes can cause harm when inhaled, making the ban on flavors reasonable," says Deborah J. Ossip, an expert in tobacco research and professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences and Community Center. The University of Rochester Medical Center's Department of Health and Prevention was a co-author of the study. "However, the ban appears to be ineffective. People, including young people, can still obtain flavored products and are still using them.

Dr. Dongmei Li, Associate Professor of Clinical and Translational Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Public Health Sciences at URMC, stated that a major concern is that the ban does not cover disposable e-cigarettes and cartridge-based e-cigarettes that use tanks instead of pods.

Other types of flavored e-cigarettes, especially disposable e-cigarettes, have become very popular after the FDA policy," says Li. "The FDA policy also did not ban mint or tobacco-flavored products - our research shows that many people turned to mint-flavored e-cigarettes after the ban. It seems that many people think that menthol is a good taste.

In the survey of respondents, nearly 30% have switched to canned or disposable flavored e-cigarettes, while another 30% have switched to mint or tobacco flavored pods. 14% have switched to combustible products like cigarettes, 5% have switched to smokeless tobacco, and less than 5% have quit using electronic cigarettes since the ban was enacted.

2FIRSTS will continue to track and report on this issue. Further updates will be available on the "2FIRSTS APP". Scan the QR code below to download the app.