Reports
Publications
Massachusetts Point-of-Sale Tobacco Policy
Impact of Flavored Tobacco Restriction Policies on the Retail Environment
- Impact of Massachusetts’ Statewide Sales Restriction on Flavored and Menthol Tobacco Products on Tobacco Sales in Massachusetts and Surrounding States. American Journal of Public Health. 2022.3
- Purpose: To assess retailer compliance with the Massachusetts statewide flavored tobacco restriction. Nielsen tobacco sales data were examined for compliance with the law and for trends in bordering states. Nielsen data were collected from large “big box” retailers and represented about 25% of all Massachusetts retailers.
- Results: Data indicated high retail compliance with the law in Massachusetts, as sales of both menthol and other flavored tobacco products decreased sharply following the June 2020 implementation date. Sales of other flavored products in bordering states remained constant. However, sales of menthol products in New Hampshire increased in the first three months following law implementation, but this increase was not sustained. Nevertheless, results highlight the importance of widespread policy to reduce cross-border sales.
- Impact of flavoured tobacco restriction policies on flavored product availability in Massachusetts. Tobacco Control. 2020.1
- Purpose: To assess the impact of local flavored tobacco restriction policies (which excluded mint/menthol flavors) on flavored tobacco availability in 38 Massachusetts municipalities.
- Results: Within 12 months of local policy passage, availability of all flavored (excluding menthol/mint) tobacco and vape products drastically decreased in the municipalities that had the policy, irrespective of community characteristics. By the end of the study period (six months to one-year post-policy implementation), only 15% of tobacco products sold in the municipalities with a policy were flavored, compared to 68% in Massachusetts’ municipalities without a policy.
- Evaluating tobacco retailer experience and compliance with a flavored tobacco product restriction in Boston, Massachusetts: impact on product availability, advertisement and consumer demand. Tobacco Control. 2020.2
- Purpose: To assess retailer compliance with the local flavored tobacco restriction in Boston. 353 retailers were surveyed before and 8-10 months after a flavored tobacco restriction was implemented in February 2016.
- Results: The percent of retailers selling flavored products (excluding mint/menthol which was not included in the local restriction) decreased significantly from 100% before the restriction to 14.4% after the restriction. Retailers were generally in compliance with the restriction, even before the official enforcement date of January 1, 2017.
Impact of Flavored Tobacco Restriction Policies on Adult Tobacco Awareness, Use, and Cessation
- Evaluation of a Statewide Flavored Tobacco Restriction on Use, Access, and Cessation Among Black and White Tobacco Users in Massachusetts. American Journal of Health Promotion 2023.7
- Purpose: This paper examines results from an online panel survey of Massachusetts residents who use flavored and menthol tobacco products. The survey aimed to understand awareness and attitudes toward the Massachusetts state law restricting the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol. It also examined the impact of the law on tobacco access and quitting behaviors, both intended by the law and possible unintended consequences, such as access to flavored tobacco products from other states or “off the street” sources. Furthermore, given the industry targeting of menthol tobacco toward Black communities and subsequent high rates of menthol use among this population, the study aimed to examine any differences in outcomes between Black and white adults who use menthol and other flavored tobacco products
- Results: Overall, most (86.7%) of the survey respondents reported the law made it more difficult to access all types and flavors of tobacco products. Many (67% of white and 64% of Black respondents) did report travel out of state to purchase menthol products; rates were lower for other flavored tobacco products. There were no significant differences between white and Black respondents in rates of out-of-state access. Additionally, Black respondents were significantly more likely to report purchasing menthol products off the street. Cross-border access and off-the-street purchasing suggest the need for greater cessation support targeted to menthol and flavored tobacco users and underscore the importance of a national flavored tobacco policy inclusive of menthol.
- Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which roughly coincides with law implementation, 16.1% of Black respondents reported using cigarettes a lot or somewhat less frequently, compared to 24.3% of white respondents. Around one third of respondents stated that they intend to quit using tobacco products during the next year and one third believed the state law would make it easier to quit using tobacco (28% of white and 32% of Black respondents).
Impact of Flavored Tobacco Restrictions on Youth Tobacco Awareness and Use
- Longer-Term Impact of the Flavored Tobacco Restriction in Two Massachusetts Communities: A Mixed-Methods Study. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. 2021.5
- Purpose: To assess the impact of local flavored tobacco restrictions on youth tobacco-related outcomes 1-2 years following implementation. Two Massachusetts municipalities with a flavored tobacco restriction (Attleboro and Salem) were matched to a similar Massachusetts municipality without a flavored tobacco restriction (Gloucester). High school students were surveyed before the policies were implemented and then again 1-2 years post-policy implementation.
- Results: Increases were seen in current flavored and non-flavored (non-flavored included mint/menthol to reflect parameters of the local restrictions) tobacco use from baseline to follow-up in all municipalities. However, increases were significantly smaller in both municipalities with a restriction. In addition, students in Attleboro and Salem showed decreased awareness of tobacco prices and brands compared to those in Gloucester. That said, the impact of a restriction does not necessarily increase with increasing length of policy implementation; impact may vary depending on quality/strength of policy enforcement, proximity to localities without a restriction, and transportation access to localities without a restriction.
- Short-Term Impact of a Flavored Tobacco Restriction: Changes in Youth Tobacco Use in a Massachusetts Community. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2019.4
- Purpose: To assess the impact of a local flavored tobacco restriction on youth tobacco-related outcomes in the 6 months following implementation. A Massachusetts municipality with a flavored tobacco restriction (Lowell) was matched to a similar Massachusetts municipality without a flavored tobacco restriction (Malden). High school students in both municipalities were surveyed around the time the policy took effect in Lowell, and 6 months later. In addition, availability of flavored tobacco products in retailers in both municipalities was assessed at both time points.
- Results: High retailer compliance with the restriction was seen in Lowell. Ever and current (past 30-day) use of both flavored and non-flavored (non-flavored included mint/menthol to reflect parameters of the local restriction) tobacco products decreased in Lowell but increased in Malden within 6 months of implementation. Furthermore, in Lowell, decreases in ever and current use of almost every type of non-flavored tobacco product occurred during this timeframe, suggesting that flavored tobacco restrictions do not necessarily lead to youth switching from flavored to non-flavored tobacco products.
Impact of Cigar Packaging/Pricing Restrictions on the Retail Environment and Youth Tobacco Use
- Single Cigar Price and Availability in Communities With and Without a Cigar Packaging and Pricing Regulation. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2019.6
- Purpose: To assess the impact of cigar packaging and pricing regulations (which raise the minimum price at which single cigars can be sold) on the retail environment and youth tobacco use in Massachusetts. From 2012 to 2018, 151 municipalities passed this regulation.
- Results: During this time, the average price of single cigars increased from $1.35 to $1.64, and availability of single cigars in retailers decreased from 49% to 21%. This increase in price and decrease in availability of single cigars may have contributed to decreases seen in youth cigar use during this time; data from the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate that current (past 30-day) use of cigars among Massachusetts high school students decreased from 14.3% in 2012 to 6.7% in 2018.