Trends in Sales of Flavored and Menthol Tobacco Products in the United States During 2011–2015

Abstract

Introduction Flavors can mask the harshness of tobacco and make it appealing to young people. This study assessed flavored and menthol tobacco product sales at the national and state levels. Methods Universal Product Code (UPC) tobacco sales data collected by Nielsen were combined for convenience stores and all-outlets-combined during October 22, 2011–January 9, 2016. Products were characterized as flavored, menthol, or non-flavored/non-menthol. Total unit sales, and the proportion of flavored and menthol unit sales, were assessed nationally and by state for seven tobacco products. Joinpoint Regression was used to assess trends in average monthly percentage change. Results Nationally, the proportion of flavored and menthol sales in 2015 was as follows: cigarettes (32.5% menthol), large cigars (26.1% flavored), cigarillos (47.5% flavored, 0.2% menthol), little cigars (21.8% flavored, 19.4% menthol), chewing tobacco (1.4% flavored, 0.7% menthol), moist snuff (3.0% flavored, 57.0% menthol), and snus (88.5% menthol). From 2011-2015, sales increased for flavored cigarillos and chewing tobacco, as well as for menthol cigarettes, little cigars, moist snuff and snus. Sales decreased for flavored large cigars, moist snuff and snus, and for menthol chewing tobacco. State-level variations were observed by product; for example, flavored little cigar sales ranged from 4.4% (Maine) to 69.3% (Utah) and flavored cigarillo sales ranged from 26.6% (Maine) to 63.0% (Maryland). Conclusions Menthol and flavored sales have increased since 2011, particularly for the products with the highest number of units sold, and significant state variation exists. Efforts to restrict flavored tobacco product sales could reduce overall U.S. tobacco consumption.

National and state patterns of concept-flavoured cigar sales, USA, 2012–2016

“…Indicators of retail sales are consistent with self-reported flavoured brand preferences for adult cigar smokers 10. During 2011–2015, the proportion of flavoured cigar sales significantly increased, with almost half of all cigarillo sales being flavoured 11. Moreover, during 2008–2015, the number of available unique cigar flavour names in USA, detected from Nielsen scanner data, increased 131%, from 108 to 205 unique flavours 12…”

A tale of two cities: exploring the retail impact of flavoured tobacco restrictions in the twin cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Minnesota

“…The increasing popularity of flavoured tobacco is a public health concern 1. There is evidence flavoured products are preferred by youth tobacco users as most youth who report tobacco use started with a flavoured product,2 3 and many report flavours as a reason they use tobacco.…”

Sales Trends in Price-Discounted Cigarettes, Large Cigars, Little Cigars, and Cigarillos—United States, 2011–2016

“…17 Given the declining trend in discounted and nondiscounted cigarillo prices, it is notable that one-fifth of little cigars and nearly half of all cigarillos sold in the United States during 2011–2016 were flavored, whereas total and flavored cigarillo sales increased. 26 Because flavors can mask the harshness of tobacco, 27,28 they can increase the likelihood of tobacco uptake, particularly among youth. 18,29 The decreasing price of non-cigarette tobacco products, combined with the availability of flavored options, suggests that strategies that restrict flavored tobacco product sales and reduce tobacco product price differentials could be effective in reducing tobacco initiation and promoting cessation.…”