Stronger flavor policies, better outcomes for young people: Comparing youth and young adult tobacco use behaviors in areas with and without flavored tobacco sales restrictions, by strength of policy, 2022

Abstract

Although numerous US jurisdictions restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products, the comprehensiveness of policies varies greatly. This study assesses differences in tobacco product use and flavored tobacco use among youth and young adults residing in areas with and without flavored tobacco restriction policies other than federal-level restrictions, by strength of policy. Cross-sectional data come from Wave 1 (October 2022) of the nationally representative Tobacco Epidemic Evaluation Network (TEEN+) Study of US youth and young adults (N = 10 255). Respondents' latitude and longitude were used to assign flavor policy coverage as no policy (80.9%), partial policy (major exemptions, 11.1%), or strong policy (minor/no exemptions, 8.0%). Policy coverage varied by several demographic characteristics, including race and ethnicity (P