Tobacco control environment in the United States and individual consumer characteristics in relation to continued smoking: differential responses among menthol smokers?
OBJECTIVE
We used a consumer panel augmented with state-specific measures of tobacco control activities to examine the main effects and interactions among consumer behaviors, particularly menthol cigarette smoking, and tobacco control environment on cessation over a six-year period.


METHODS
We used the Nielson Homescan Panel, which tracks consumer purchasing behaviors, and tobacco control information matched to panelist zip code. We focused on 1582 households purchasing ≥20 packs from 2004 to 2009. Our analysis included demographics; purchasing behavior including menthol versus nonmenthol use (≥80% of cigarettes purchased being menthol), quality preferences (average price/pack), purchase recency, and nicotine intake (nicotine levels of cigarettes purchased); and tobacco control metrics (taxation, anti-tobacco advertising, smoke-free policies).


RESULTS
Menthol smoking (Hazard Ratio [HR]=0.79, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.64, 0.99), being African American (HR=0.67, CI 0.46, 0.98), being male (HR=0.46, CI 0.28, 0.74), higher quality premium preferences (HR=0.80, CI 0.77, 0.91), lower recency (HR=1.04, CI 1.02, 1.05), and higher nicotine intake rates (HR=0.99, CI 0.99, 0.99) were related to continued smoking. No significant interactions were found.


CONCLUSIONS
While there were no interactions between menthol use and effects of tobacco control activities, we did find additional support for the decreased cessation rates among menthol cigarette smokers, particularly in the African American population.
Department of Marketing, Emory University Goizueta Business School, 1300 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Michael
M
Lewis
Marketing Division, University of Colorado Boulder, Leeds School of Business, 995 Regent Drive, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
Yanwen
Y
Wang
Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. Electronic address: cjberg@emory.edu.
Carla J
CJ
Berg
D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008610:Menthol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000208:ethnology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D008610:Menthol
Smoking; Smoking cessation; Tobacco use