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Youth

Comprehensive E-Cigarette Flavor Bans May Encourage Substitution to Traditional Smoking

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) have published a study examining the effects of comprehensive flavor bans on e-cigarette use and potential spillovers into other tobacco use by youth, young adults, and adults. The study utilized four national data sets and found that statewide comprehensive flavor bans may have generated an unintended consequence by encouraging substitution toward traditional smoking in some populations. Specifically, young adults decreased their use of e-cigarettes by about two to three percentage points, while increasing cigarette use.

Key Takeaways:

  • The majority of youth e-cigarette users consume flavored e-cigarettes, raising concerns from public health advocates that flavors may drive youth initiation and continued use of e-cigarettes.
  • The study found that comprehensive flavor bans may have unintended consequences, such as encouraging substitution toward traditional smoking in some populations.
  • Young adults decreased their use of e-cigarettes by about two to three percentage points after the bans were implemented.
  • There is some suggestive evidence of increasing cigarette use among youth, though these results are undermined by pre-trend differences between treatment and control units.
  • The bans had no effect on e-cigarette and smoking participation among adults 25 and over.
  • The study utilized four national data sets: standard difference-in-differences (DID) and synthetic DID methods.
  • The research was peer-reviewed and published in the journal Health Economics.

Statistics:

  • 2-3 percentage points decrease in young adults' e-cigarette use after the bans.
  • Some suggestive evidence of increasing cigarette use among youth.
  • No effect on e-cigarette and smoking participation among adults 25 and over.
  • 4 national data sets utilized in the study.
  • Comprehensive flavor bans implemented in several states.

Sources:

  • Comprehensive E-Cigarette Flavor Bans and Tobacco Use Among Youth and Adults. Health Economics, 2025.
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (supporting organization).
  • National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) (research institution).
  • Wiley (publisher of Health Economics).
  • Selen Ozdogan (author).
  • Henry Saffer (author).
  • Michael Grossman (author).
  • Daniel Dench (author).
  • Dhaval Dave (author).

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