Native gross sales bans on flavored tobacco in California linked to decreased youth vaping

Researchers from the College of California San Diego have discovered that native gross sales bans on flavored tobacco in California are related to decreased youth vaping over time with out rising cigarette smoking. The findings, based mostly on an evaluation of greater than 2.8 million center and highschool college students, have been revealed April 10, 2026 in JAMA Well being Discussion board.

Our findings counsel that native flavored tobacco bans could be an efficient technique for decreasing youth e-cigarette use. Importantly, we didn’t discover proof that these insurance policies led younger individuals to change to cigarettes, which has been a significant concern raised in coverage debates.”

Eric Leas, PhD, MPH, assistant professor on the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim College of Public Well being and Human Longevity Science and senior creator of the examine

Digital nicotine supply techniques (ENDS), generally often known as e-cigarettes or vaping merchandise, have been extensively utilized by adolescents within the U.S. Nationwide knowledge present that youth vaping peaked in 2019 when greater than 1 / 4 of highschool college students reported utilizing e-cigarettes, although prevalence has since declined. Regardless of this lower, frequent use stays frequent amongst present customers, elevating issues about nicotine dependence and long-term well being dangers.

One method policymakers have used to cut back youth vaping is limiting the sale of flavored tobacco merchandise, which frequently embrace fruit, sweet or mint flavors that enchantment to younger customers. Prior analysis has proven that flavored merchandise are a significant driver of youth e-cigarette use. 

To higher perceive the impression of those insurance policies, the analysis group analyzed responses from 2,805,708 college students who participated within the California Wholesome Youngsters Survey between 2017 and 2022. The survey contains college students in grades 7, 9 and 11 and asks about past-month use of tobacco merchandise.

The researchers in contrast tobacco use amongst college students attending colleges in jurisdictions with flavored tobacco bans to these in areas with out such insurance policies. The examine used a dynamic difference-in-differences design to account for variations in when completely different cities adopted the bans and to trace how outcomes modified over time. The dynamic difference-in-differences design technique allowed researchers to see whether or not youth vaping modified after flavored tobacco bans have been adopted in numerous cities – and whether or not these modifications grew over a number of years, quite than simply taking a look at a easy before-and-after comparability.

Youth vaping charges have been decrease in areas with flavored tobacco bans. In jurisdictions with a ban, 6.2% of scholars reported present e-cigarette use, in contrast with 7.7% in areas with out one. Over time, the examine discovered these insurance policies have been related to sustained declines in youth vaping. 

In contrast, the examine discovered no significant affiliation between flavored tobacco bans and cigarette smoking amongst youth. Cigarette use remained roughly the identical in jurisdictions with and with out the insurance policies.

The delayed reductions in vaping could mirror how insurance policies evolve and are enforced over time. Many native jurisdictions progressively strengthened their guidelines after preliminary adoption, for instance by increasing definitions of flavored merchandise or including enforcement provisions. Assets and help for implementing these legal guidelines additionally grew over time, notably after California’s statewide ban took impact, serving to native communities higher implement the restrictions.

California voters permitted a statewide flavored tobacco gross sales ban in 2022, which took impact in 2023. As a result of many cities had applied their very own restrictions years earlier – some as early as 2011 – the researchers say these native insurance policies present a chance to review longer-term impacts of taste bans.

The authors be aware that the examine centered on California, a state with traditionally sturdy tobacco management insurance policies and comparatively low youth smoking charges in contrast with different states. In consequence, the magnitude and timing of the consequences could differ in locations with completely different coverage environments.

Future analysis shall be wanted to know the long-term impression of statewide bans and the way comparable insurance policies have an effect on youth tobacco use throughout completely different areas and communities.

“Native insurance policies gave us a helpful window into how flavored tobacco restrictions could affect youth conduct over time,” stated Giovanni Appolon, MPH, first creator of the examine who carried out this analysis as a part of experiential studying as doctoral candidate within the UC San Diego – San Diego State College Joint Doctoral Program in Public Well being. “As extra jurisdictions undertake these insurance policies, continued monitoring will assist decide how enforcement, coverage design and group context form their public well being impression.”