The association between flavor capsule cigarette use and sociodemographic variables: Evidence from Chile

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this article is to examine the factors associated with smoking of flavor capsule cigarettes in Chile, where the popularity of these products has increased dramatically, a trend increasingly observed across the world.MethodsA representative poll of 851 smokers in Metropolitan Santiago de Chile, which comprises 40% of the country's total population, was implemented in mid-2017. Smokers were given a questionnaire that collected socio-demographic information and information on smoking patterns. Four discrete-choice models were estimated on the decision to smoke flavor capsule cigarettes to better understand the statistical relationships between traits of smokers and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes.ResultsThe results of these models show that each year less in a smoker’s age increases the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes by, on average, between 0.8 and 0.9 percentage points. If the smoker is a woman, the likelihood of preferring flavor capsule cigarettes increases between 13.4 and 13.5 percentage points. Results also reveal a positive relationship between the price paid and the consumption of flavor capsule cigarettes, indicating that these cigarettes tend to be more expensive. There is no statistical relationship between participation in the labor market and smoking these products.ConclusionsChile has the world’s highest prevalence of flavor capsule cigarette smoking, which is concentrated among young people (25 years and younger) and females. No relationship between socioeconomic status and use of these products is found, though there are indications that such relationship may exist, as they were at the time of study 14% more expensive, on average, than conventional non-flavored cigarettes. As in most countries, the tobacco industry appears to be deliberately promoting these products with the goal of halting or slowing the decline in cigarette consumption in Chile. Thus, to reduce cigarette consumption (especially among youth), restricting or forbidding cigarette flavorings of all types, including flavor capsules, would be an effective strategy.

Cross-sectional survey of flavored cigarette use among adult smokers in Singapore

“…Female smokers were also more likely to have initiated with flavored cigarettes. This is consistent with studies from the European Union 26,27 , the United States 28 , and Chile 30 , which found higher rates of flavored tobacco use in females, and a study from the United States which shows a higher prevalence of flavored tobacco use in certain ethnic groups (African and Hispanic) 28 . These differences may be a result of the tobacco industry's targeted marketing of flavored cigarettes 7,8,14 , which has targeted females and specific ethnic groups in Singapore 1 , as well as variations in the taste and other sensory preferences between different genders or ethnic groups 14,34 .…”

“…Surveys of flavored cigarette use in the European Union 26 , Poland 27 , United States 28,29 , and Chile 30 , have found that smokers who use flavored cigarettes are more likely to be younger in age [26][27][28][29][30] , female [26][27][28]30 , of an ethnic minority 28 , smoking fewer cigarettes per day 26 , and more likely to perceive some cigarettes as less harmful than others 27 . However, little is known on the sociodemographic or smoking-related characteristics associated with flavored cigarette use in Singapore or the Asian context.…”

Fresher with flavour: young women smokers’ constructions and experiences of menthol capsule cigarettes and regular cigarettes

“…The majority of the young women smoked menthol capsule cigarettes and discussed the increasing popularity of menthol capsules amongst young women, adding to growing evidence that capsule cigarettes are 'attractive' and 'popular' amongst young people [52]. The higher use of capsules amongst younger than older people, is a pattern across countries, including Australia [21,23,32]. Menthol capsule smokers gave accounts that the flavour of menthol capsules improved the taste of regular cigarettes, confirming other recent research that capsules are perceived as 'tasting better' than regular cigarettes [53].…”

“…In Australia, flavour capsule cigarettes were introduced during the lead up to plain packaging legislation [20] and have not since been prohibited. In fact, flavour capsules are one of the fastest growing segments of the tobacco market globally [21,22] as well as in Australia [23] and are not included in plain packaging lesislation. Preference for capsule cigarettes grew significantly from 1% to approximately 3% in Australia in the two years after plain packaging implementation, with capsules particularly popular with young people [23].…”

Feminine Appeals on Cigarette Packs Sold in 14 Countries

“…For example, in India brands like Platinum, a cigarette that explicitly targeted women and their preference for silver jewelry, was less successful than other cigarette brands that used more subtle, indirect cues to link smoking with a woman's sophistication and sexual allure in billboard and magazine advertising [34]. Additionally, there has been a global shift toward marketing gender-neutral ("dual-sex" [20]) cigarettes to women in Western, high-income countries [18,20], and a general reactance against the use of traditional femininity and female independence to market products directly to women [52][53][54][55]. It may be that a similar trend toward less explicitly feminine and more gender non-specific branding and technologies (e.g., flavor capsules) that contain features that appeal to men and women equally is also taking place in the LMICs included in this study.…”