Survey to Assess Perceptions of Smokeless Tobacco Packaging and Menthol

Audience: Informs researchers and policy makers about perceptions of youth and adult smokers and nonsmokers from smokeless tobacco packaging design and warning labels and demand associated with a possible menthol ban on cigarettes. Key Points: Data were collected via a Web-based survey of 600 14-25 year-olds and 400 26+ smokers and nonsmokers from an online US panel. Respondents were asked questions regarding perceptions of risk and appeal of different smokeless tobacco products with varying packaging and warning label characteristics, as well as how they might react if menthol cigarette were banned. Educational Experience: Results presented from this study will inform the audience on the impact of tobacco pack design variations (product descriptors, colors, flavors, and warning labels styles) on beliefs of US youth and adults. Participants were more likely to find packs with a larger or graphic health warning to attract attention and more dangerous to health compared to smaller text warnings. Youth were more likely to pick the new dissolvable tobacco products and flavored products as attractive to peers. When asked about a menthol ban, 35% of current menthol smokers said they would stop smoking and 25% said they would ‘find a way to buy a menthol brand’. Benefits: This study supports stronger smokeless tobacco packaging and health warning labeling regulations, as well as the removal of candy-like flavors in tobacco products. Additionally, while most menthol smokers said they would not be happy with a ban, more said they would respond by quitting rather than seek out a black market for menthol cigarettes.