E-Cigarette Flavors, Devices, and Brand Preferences among Youths in Canada, England, and the United States: The Value and Challenges of Comparing International Survey Data.

Introduction:
This text provides an overview of the article by hammond et al. examining the impact of recent legislation in the United States that bans cartridge-based electronic nicotine delivery system products with flavors, except for tobacco- or menthol-flavored products. The text also discusses the challenges of comparing international survey data on e-cigarette use, highlighting differences in regulatory landscapes and e-cigarette use patterns in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Key Points:

* The hammond et al. study found that after the ban, there were increases in disposable products and few changes in flavors used by youths, with fruit flavor remaining the most popular.
* The ban did not have an impact on young people's vaping rates, and it remains unclear whether a complete ban on flavors across devices would affect young people's use or smoking cessation efforts among adults.
* Comparing findings from different countries can be challenging due to international divergence in e-cigarette use and regulatory landscapes.
* Differences in e-cigarette use patterns exist between the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, such as the prevalence of cartridge and pod devices and the positioning of e-cigarettes in relation to other tobacco products.
* The denormalization of smoking via e-cigarette use being recognized as a nonsmoking behavior could support the renormalization of smoking among young people.
* Efforts to address vaping flavor enticement among young people may take different forms in North america and England.
* Unanticipated outcomes may arise from e-cigarette legislation, and continued qualitative research and national surveys are necessary to provide a deeper understanding of the impact.

Main Message:
The text highlights the challenges of comparing international survey data on e-cigarette use and the impact of different regulatory landscapes on e-cigarette use patterns. While the ban on cartridge-based electronic nicotine delivery system products with flavors in the United States may have had limited success in reducing youth vaping, it is unclear whether such a ban would have unintended consequences on smoking cessation efforts among adults. Continued research is necessary to understand the impact of e-cigarette legislation and any unanticipated outcomes.

hallingberg B. E-Cigarette Flavors, Devices, and Brand Preferences among Youths in Canada, England, and the United States: The Value and Challenges of Comparing International Survey Data. american journal of public health. 2022;112(7):1011-1013. doi:10.2105/aJPh.2022.306903