Impact of Little Cigars and Cigarillos Packaging Features on Product Preference

Ce Shang, James Nonnemaker, Kymberle Sterling, Jessica Sobolewski and Scott R. Weaver
Additional contact information
Ce Shang: Department of Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43017, USA
James Nonnemaker: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 22709, USA
Kymberle Sterling: Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, School of Public Health, Dallas, TX 77054, USA
Jessica Sobolewski: RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC 22709, USA
Scott R. Weaver: Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30302, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 21, 1-13

Abstract: Background: We conducted a discrete choice experiment (DCE) among young adult cigarette smokers in the period July–August 2018 to examine their preference for cigarillos in response to various packaging-related attributes, including flavor, flavor description, quality descriptors, pack size, and prices. Methods: A convenience sample of 566 US young adult cigarette smokers aged 18–34, among whom 296 were current little cigar and cigarillo (LCC) smokers, were recruited using Facebook ads and invited to participate in an online (Qualtrics) tobacco survey containing DCE and tobacco use questions. In the experiment, participants chose among two cigarillo products or “neither” (opt-out). Results: We analyzed preferences for LCCs using multinomial, nested, random parameter logit models. Results showed that young adult cigarette smokers preferred grape over menthol, tobacco/regular, and wine flavors; “color only” and “color and text” flavor depictions over text only; “smooth” and “sweet” quality descriptors over “satisfying”; and larger pack sizes and lower prices. Conclusions: Regulating packaging-related features will impact LCC choices among US young adult smokers. FDA regulation over these packaging-related features may impact LCC use among young adult smokers.

Keywords: cigars; cigarillos; packaging; flavor; quality; price; pack size (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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