ENDS Flavor Preference by Menthol Cigarette Smoking Status among US Adults, 2018–2019

Abstract

E-cigarette flavor preference may differ among smokers using e-cigarettes, but little information is available on preferences by menthol cigarette status. Using nationally representative data for US adults from the 2018–2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, we analyzed e-cigarette flavor preference by menthol cigarette status and e-cigarette device type for dual-cigarette and e-cigarette users and e-cigarette users who had recently quit smoking by trying to switch to e-cigarettes (“switchers”). Approximately half (52.2%) of dual users of menthol cigarettes and e-cigarettes reported using menthol/mint-flavored e-cigarettes as did 41.4% of “switchers” who had smoked menthol cigarettes; exclusive menthol/mint flavor use was 13.1% for dual users and 21.3% for “switchers.” A similar proportion (45.1%) of dual users who smoked nonmenthol cigarettes used tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, but only 26.7% of “switchers” who had smoked nonmenthol cigarettes used tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. Approximately 60% of dual users and “switchers” used fruit/other flavors, regardless of menthol cigarette use. By device type, 63.9% of dual users of cartridge-based e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes used menthol/mint-flavored e-cigarettes. Approximately 75% of dual users and 85% of “switchers” who used tank or mod systems used fruit/other flavors. Menthol cigarette smokers may be particularly likely to use menthol/mint e-cigarettes, and a majority of dual users and “switchers” used fruit/other flavors. These results can inform policy measures concerning flavored electronic nicotine delivery system products.

Ice flavours and non-menthol synthetic cooling agents in e-cigarette products: a review

“…E-cigarettes with cooling features have also been marketed since as early as 2012,3 characteristically as menthol-flavoured or mint-flavoured products 4. Given that e-cigarettes with cooling features have been widely used by adolescents5 and adults6 and might have harmful toxins,7 continued monitoring of this product class is critical for tobacco control.…”

Changes in Biomarkers of Cigarette Smoke Exposure After 6 Days of Switching Exclusively or Partially to Use of the JUUL System with Two Nicotine Concentrations: A Randomized Controlled Confinement Study in Adult Smokers

“…Additionally, existing confinement studies did not evaluate Menthol-flavored JUUL e-liquids, 12 which is particularly important because: (1) menthol is one of only two flavors currently permitted in cartridge-based ENDS, such as JUUL, in the US; and (2) recent data suggests menthol-flavored ENDS are widely-used among smokers of mentholated cigarettes. 14 …”