National Support for a Menthol Cigarette Sales Ban

Lauren Czaplicki, Barbara Schillo, Shyanika W. Rose, Yitong Zhou, Donna Vallone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objectives: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local jurisdictions have different authorities to regulate menthol cigarettes, and a growing number of localities and the FDA are considering these policy options. The objective of this study was to update previous research on public support for a menthol ban, including examining differences in support by demographic factors, geographic region, and smoking status. Methods: We assessed policy support among a cross-sectional sample of 2871 adults aged 18-64 from a nationally representative online panel. We calculated weighted estimates of support by demographic factors, political ideology, region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), and smoking status (never, former, current nonmenthol, current menthol). We used weighted adjusted logistic regression analysis to examine correlates of support for a menthol ban. Results: Overall, 56.4% (95% CI, 54.4%-58.3%) of participants supported a government policy to ban menthol cigarette sales. Support was significantly higher among women than among men (62.5% vs 50.1%; P <.001); among Hispanic/Latino (69.3%), non-Hispanic African American (60.5%), and non-Hispanic other (65.8%) people than among non-Hispanic White people (50.4%; P <.001); and among never (64.8%) and former (47.0%) smokers than among current nonmenthol cigarette smokers (30.1%; P <.001). A significant proportion (28.5%; P <.001) of current menthol cigarette smokers supported a ban. After controlling for other factors, geographic region was not significantly associated with support for a ban. Conclusions: Efforts are needed to further increase support for a ban among current menthol cigarette smokers. These findings can be used to assist policy makers and communities in efforts to ban menthol cigarettes in their jurisdictions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)183-191
Number of pages9
JournalPublic Health Reports
Volume136
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health.

Keywords

  • advocacy
  • health disparities
  • public health
  • public policy
  • tobacco

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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