RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Little filtered cigars: US sales, flavours, package sizes and prices
JF Tobacco Control
JO Tob Control
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 346
OP 349
DO 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054405
VO 28
IS 3
A1 Doris G Gammon
A1 Todd Rogers
A1 Ellen M Coats
A1 James M Nonnemaker
A1 Lisa Henriksen
YR 2019
UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/28/3/346.abstract
AB Objective At least four varieties of little filtered cigars (LFCs) violate the US prohibition on flavoured cigarettes other than menthol. This study characterises the sales of prohibited products and other LFCs by flavour category and pack size, as well as the price of LFCs relative to cigarettes.Methods Using retail sales data for 2016, we computed the sales volume in dollars and equivalent units and the percentage of total sales by flavour and pack size for the USA by region and state. Paired t-tests compared the prices for LFCs and cigarettes sold in same-sized packs and cartons.Results LFC sales totalled 24 033 equivalent units per 100 000 persons in 2016. Flavoured LFC varieties accounted for almost half (47.5%) of the total sales. LFCs were sold in 12 different pack sizes, but 79.7% of sales were packs of 20. The price of 20-packs averaged $2.41 (SD=$1.49), which was significantly less than cigarettes (M=$5.90, SD=$0.85). Regional differences suggest a greater proportion of menthol/mint LFCs and lower prices in the South than in other regions.Conclusion Classifying all LFCs as cigarettes would require that they be offered in a minimum package of 20, eliminate flavoured varieties other than menthol and increase prices through applicable state and local cigarette taxes.