Tobacco Industry Claims About Transformation are Inconsistent With Combustible Cigarette Innovations: The Case of Flavor Capsule Cigarettes

Visibility and availability of single cigarettes around schools in four Latin American countries

INTRODUCTION

Single cigarette sales at tobacco-selling points of sale (POS) may promote smoking. We explored visibility and availability of single cigarettes in POS around schools in Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru, countries where their sale is banned.

METHODS

Between April and July 2023, an observational study was conducted at POS around high schools in urban and rural areas in Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. A sampling frame of schools was generated from public registries, with schools categorised according to their socioeconomic status and randomly selected within socioeconomic strata. A total of 2081 POS were surveyed based on their proximity to these randomly selected schools. Data were collected on the visibility of single cigarettes (any cigarette sticks or open cigarette packs on display and able to be seen by customers were coded as visible) and their availability (ie, whether singles were sold, whether visible or not).

RESULTS

Single cigarettes were visible in 37.2% of POS and available in most (84.9%), with neighbourhood stores the primary source. In most (84.1%) POS with visible single cigarettes, they were displayed near candy or toys. Prices of the cheapest single cigarette sticks ranged from US$0.03 in Argentina to US$0.13 in Guatemala.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate widespread availability of single cigarettes in four Latin American countries where their sale is banned. The low price of single cigarettes, and their proximity to candy/toys, may increase the appeal of smoking to youth. Stricter enforcement of bans on single cigarettes, which may serve as a gateway to experimentation and continued smoking, is needed.

The Use of Packaging Descriptors in a Rapidly Growing Market for Capsule Cigarettes: Evidence From Mexico

INTRODUCTION

The global market for capsule cigarettes has grown rapidly, especially in Latin America. This research examined the sales trends and patterns as well as packaging characteristics of capsule cigarette in Mexico in recent years.

METHODS

National data on cigarette sales in Mexico between October 2018 and September 2021 licensed from NielsenIQ were supplemented with cigarette pack pictures and Internet searches to determine whether characterizing flavor, concept flavor, and action descriptors were used. Market share in sales value and volume was calculated by capsule and flavor status, descriptors, price tier, manufacturer, pack size, and cigarette length for the whole time period and for each month. Number of unique brand variants was also examined.

RESULTS

Capsule cigarette sales totaled US$4.29 billion or 30.99 billion sticks during the assessed period, comprising 37.7% of the cigarette market share in sales value or 35.5% in sales volume. Over half of capsule cigarettes sold during this time period had concept flavor descriptors, 17.8% contained characterizing flavor descriptors, and 15.1% contained action descriptors that were suggestive of the interactive aspects of capsules. The monthly market share of capsule cigarette sales volume among all cigarette sales in Mexico increased steadily from 33.3% in October 2018 to 37.3% in September 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

The expanding capsule cigarette market in Mexico is concerning, given the product's associated misconceptions of reduced harm and greater appeal among youth. Findings underline the need for enhanced regulations to address the public health threat posed by capsule cigarettes.

IMPLICATIONS

Capsule cigarettes have a substantial market share in Mexico, with increasing popularity. Descriptors and other product characteristics such as cigarette length might be used to increase the appeal and target particular populations. Policy makers should consider banning capsules and flavors in cigarettes including descriptors or other indication in product presentation that could be perceived as denoting a taste, aroma, or sensation, and making the appearance and design of tobacco products more commensurate with the harm they cause by adopting plain and standardized packaging.

Tobacco product litter as a form of postconsumption marketing: an observational study in India

BACKGROUND

Tobacco product litter may be a form of postconsumption marketing if the littered items are branded. We conducted an observational study in India to assess the presence of tobacco product litter and determine the proportion that included branding.

METHODS

During November-December 2022, we identified tobacco product litter (cigarette/bidi butts and packaging; smokeless tobacco packaging) in nine Indian cities: Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Mumbai and Patna. In each city, we conducted observations along 15 different routes, each approximately 250 m in distance, for a total of 135 observational routes. Data collectors classified each piece of tobacco litter (product/packaging) and recorded if the litter had visible branding, such as brand names and/or logos.

RESULTS

The study identified 17 261 pieces of tobacco product litter; SLT packaging comprised the largest proportion of the sample (62%), followed by cigarette butts (26%), bidi butts (8%), cigarette packaging (3%) and bidi packaging (1%). Across the sample, 81% (n=13 924) of the litter was branded. A brand was visible on most packaging for cigarettes (98%), bidis (97%) and SLT (86%), and present on 82% of cigarette butts and 26% of bidi butts.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the majority of tobacco product litter in India is branded, which could function as a form of postconsumption marketing. Plain and standardised packaging and banning branding features on filters would reduce tobacco litter branding.