Summary
Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the impact of vaping restrictions in public places on smoking and vaping in the US. The study employs a difference-in-differences approach to estimate the effects of these restrictions on the use of electronic cigarettes (ECs) and cigarette smoking among adults. The data used for the analysis comes from the Tobacco Use Supplement of the Current Population Survey (TUS-CPS) and the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) database of state and local indoor smoking and vaping restriction laws.
Key Points:
* The study estimates the impact of extending indoor smoking restrictions to include ECs on the use of ECs and cigarette smoking among adults in the US.
* The study uses a linear probability model and applies a difference-in-differences analysis to TUS-CPS data from 2010-2011, 2014-2015, and 2018-2019.
* The sample includes people aged 18 to 54 who lived in US counties where comprehensive indoor smoking laws in bars, restaurants, and private workplaces have been in place prior to 2010.
* The study uses the fraction of the population within a US county covered by a comprehensive IVR as the independent variable.
* The study also controls for other state-level factors such as unemployment rate, per capita gross domestic product by state, cigarette excise tax, and EC tax.
* The study finds that indoor vaping restriction (IVR) coverage was not significantly associated with the likelihood of adult EC use or cigarette smoking.
* The non-significant results appeared in different socio-demographic subgroups.
Main Message:
The main message of the text is that indoor vaping restrictions do not appear to decrease electronic cigarette use among US adults. Additionally, there is no evidence that indoor vaping restrictions increase or decrease cigarette smoking among US adults. These findings suggest that policy interventions targeting vaping restrictions in public places may not be effective in reducing the use of ECs or cigarette smoking among adults in the US.
Citation
Cheng KW, Liu F, Pesko MF, Levy DT, Fong GT, Cummings KM. Impact of vaping restrictions in public places on smoking and vaping in the United States-evidence using a difference-in-differences approach. Addiction (Abingdon, England). 2023;118(1):160-166. doi:10.1111/add.16039
