Ban on menthol-flavoured tobacco products predicts cigarette cessation at 1 year: a population cohort study.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of a study examining the impact of a menthol ban on smoking behavior one year after implementation in Ontario, Canada. The study compares the quit attempt and quit rates of daily menthol smokers, occasional menthol smokers, and non-menthol smokers. The key points highlight the study design, major findings, and implications for public health.

Key Points:

* The study is a cohort study with a baseline survey conducted from September to December 2016 and a follow-up survey from January to August 2018.
* Participants were Ontario residents aged 16 and over who reported current smoking at baseline and completed the follow-up survey.
* The study found that daily menthol smokers had a higher quit attempt rate (63%) and quit rate (24%) compared to occasional menthol smokers (62% and 20%, respectively) and non-menthol smokers (43% and 14%, respectively).
* The study controlled for smoking and demographic characteristics at baseline, including age, sex, education, race, cigarettes smoked per day, daily or non-daily smoking, use of e-cigarettes or cigars since the ban, survey source, and the number of days between the baseline and follow-up survey.
* Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings, including limiting the definition of quit to those who had not reported smoking within the past month and past six months and accounting for missing data using an "intent to treat" approach.
* The study suggests that a menthol ban could have a substantial public health impact by reducing overall cigarette smoking.
* The study has limitations, including the potential for recall bias and the use of self-reported measures of menthol use and quitting behavior.

Main Message:
The study provides evidence that a menthol ban can increase quit attempt and quit rates among daily menthol smokers. The findings suggest that restrictions on menthol may lead to significant improvements in public health. However, the study also has limitations, and further research is needed to confirm the results and assess the long-term impact of menthol bans. Nonetheless, the study provides valuable insights for policymakers considering menthol bans as a public health intervention.

Chaiton MO, Nicolau I, Schwartz R, et al. Ban on menthol-flavoured tobacco products predicts cigarette cessation at 1 year: a population cohort study. Tobacco control. 2020;29(3):341-347. doi:10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054841