title: Support for electronic cigarette regulations among California voters.
abstract: Policies regulating the sale and use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) vary widely within the USA and worldwide. We assessed support for four proposed policies among a representative sample of California voters (N=1002) and identified latent classes of voters who were likely to support or oppose various policies. Findings showed support for prohibiting e-cigarette use where smoking is banned (70%), taxing e-cigarettes (74%), licensing e-cigarette retailers (74%), and restricting flavourings (57%). Correlates of policy support included smoking status, political orientation, age group and California region. The latent class analysis revealed three classes of voters: Policy Supporters (predominantly college-educated, higher-income, liberal non-smokers), Policy Opposers (predominantly low-educated, low-income, conservative smokers), and Swing Voters (intermediate levels of education, income, and smoking, conservative). Findings provide information to inform segmented state-based communication campaigns regarding regulation of e-cigarettes. If policymakers want to enact prohibitive state-level policies, Opposers and Swing Voters may be important constituents to target.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Unger
authors.affiliation: Barker Bi-Coastal Health Consultants, Inc, Calabasas, California, USA.
authors.forename: Dianne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baezconde-Garbanati
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sussman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002140:California; D003132:Commerce; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013660:Taxes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Non-cigarette tobacco products; Public opinion; Public policy