Table 2

The importance of cigarette design and marketing elements in cigarette brand choice among current cigarette smokers, Eurobarometer 385 (V.77.1) survey, February–March 2012 (n=6896)

CharacteristicsTaste of tobaccoSpecific tastes e.g., a sweet, menthol, fruity or spicy flavourBrand nameTar, nicotine and carbon monoxide levelsPackaging of cigarettesPrice of cigarettes
AOR (95% CI)AOR (95% CI)AOR (95% CI)AOR (95% CI)AOR (95% CI)AOR (95% CI)
Sex
 Male (referent)
 Female1.16 (0.91 to 1.46)1.33 (1.14 to 1.56)*1.15 (0.97 to 1.35)1.30 (1.11 to 1.52)*1.13 (0.95 to 1.34)0.99 (0.82 to 1.18)
Socioeconomic status
 Lower (referent)
 Middle1.57 (1.11 to 2.23)*1.21 (0.97 to 1.54)1.76 (1.39 to 2.26)*1.06 (0.85 to 1.32)1.24 (0.98 to 1.58)0.82 (0.60 to 1.12)
 Upper1.26 (0.91 to 1.74)1.36 (1.09 to 1.72)*1.77 (1.41 to 2.23)*0.89 (0.72 to 1.11)1.17 (0.92 to 1.49)0.38 (0.29 to 0.50)*
Type of residence
 Urban (referent)
 Rural0.67 (0.53 to 0.86)*0.85 (0.72 to 1.00)0.79 (0.66 to 0.94)*0.65 (0.55 to 0.77)*0.81 (0.67 to 0.97)*0.95 (0.78 to 1.15)
Region in the EU
 Western Europe (referent)
 Southern Europe1.58 (1.11 to 2.23)*0.70 (0.56 to 0.88)*1.99 (1.58 to 2.50)*2.33 (1.88 to 2.88)*3.35 (2.58 to 4.36)*1.97 (1.55 to 2.51)*
 Northern Europe0.59 (0.42 to 0.84)*0.83 (0.65 to 1.07)1.01 (0.79 to 1.31)0.98 (0.77 to 1.25)1.20 (0.87 to 1.65)1.31 (1.01 to 1.70)*
 Eastern Europe0.96 (0.71 to 1.30)1.51 (1.24 to 1.85)*1.50 (1.22 to 1.86)*2.36 (1.92 to 2.89)*3.56 (2.79 to 4.56)*3.13 (2.46 to 3.98)*
Age, years
 15–24 (referent)
 25–391.25 (0.85 to 1.82)1.04 (0.80 to 1.35)1.10 (0.84 to 1.44)0.99 (0.76 to 1.28)1.12 (0.84 to 1.50)0.88 (0.64 to 1.18)
 40–541.12 (0.75 to 1.66)1.11 (0.84 to 1.45)1.10 (0.84 to 1.45)1.06 (0.82 to 1.39)0.97 (0.72 to 1.31)0.93 (0.67 to 1.27)
 ≥551.08 (0.73 to 1.60)1.03 (0.77 to 1.37)1.60 (1.20 to 2.14)*1.27 (0.96 to 1.67)0.90 (0.66 to 1.24)1.04 (0.75 to 1.43)
Age at initiation of regular smoking, years
 <15
 15–181.30 (0.94 to 1.81)1.24 (0.98 to 1.57)1.44 (1.14 to 1.81)*1.25 (1.00 to 1.56)1.32 (1.01 to 1.72)*1.11 (0.85 to 1.45)
 19–250.91 (0.62 to 1.32)1.09 (0.84 to 1.43)1.43 (1.10 to 1.88)1.46 (1.13 to 1.88)*1.49 (1.10 to 2.01)*0.85 (0.63 to 1.15)
 >250.65 (0.36 to 1.17)1.02 (0.66 to 1.58)1.15 (0.73 to 1.80)1.69 (1.11 to 2.59)*1.64 (0.99 to 2.70)0.91 (0.56 to 1.47)
  • Multivariate-adjusted models adjusted for all characteristics listed in the table.

  • *Statistically significant AORs (p<0.05).

  • AOR, adjusted OR; EU, European Union.