E-cigarette sales have grown significantly in previous years, according to data presented in a new study.
The report shows that from January 2020 to December 2022, the monthly sales volume of e-cigarettes will increase by 46.6%. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The number of brands to choose from also jumped 46.2% over the same period, from 184 to 269.
Disposable devices are growing in popularity, while pre-filled options are in decline. Data obtained by the researchers showed a significant increase in sales of youth-oriented flavors such as fruit, sweets and desserts.
The best-selling e-cigarette brands in December 2022 include Vuse, JUUL, Elf Bar, NJOY and Breeze Smoke. Elf Bar successfully became the brand of choice for a sample of 16-19 year-olds in August 2022, becoming the leading disposable brand in the US and driving increased vaping use among teens in the UK.
in a Press ReleasesDr. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC Office of Smoking and Health, highlighted the rapidly changing patterns of e-cigarette sales and use, reviewing the peaks in youth e-cigarette use observed in 2017 and 2018, largely driven by JUUL.
“Retail sales data are critical to providing real-time information on the rapidly changing vaping landscape, which is critical to reducing youth tobacco use,” Kitner added.
The study analyzed retail data from Information Resources Inc., focusing on UPC sales in brick-and-mortar stores. However, it does not include information from specialized tobacco stores such as vape shops and online retailers.
Dr. Fatma Romeh Ali, a health economist at the CDC Foundation and lead author of the study, highlighted that the surge in total e-cigarette sales from 2020 to 2022 is driven by non-tobacco flavored products. Menthol dominates the prefilled pod market, while fruit and candy flavors dominate the disposable e-cigarette market. The popularity of these flavored e-cigarettes among U.S. middle and high school students is evident in the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, she said.
Although overall unit sales increased during the study period, from May 2022 to December 2022, sales decreased by 12.3%. This decline can be attributed to a variety of factors, including regional restrictions on sales of flavored tobacco products, regulatory actions by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and potential COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions, among others.
Robin Koval, CEO and president of the Truth Initiative, emphasized that the tobacco industry is aware of how flavors appeal to young people, who are particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction. Koval acknowledged the FDA’s recent actions against the illegal sale of flavored e-cigarettes, but emphasized the urgent need for concerted efforts to protect youth from all flavored e-cigarettes, including disposables.
On Thursday, the FDA issued warning letters to 189 retailers for selling unauthorized tobacco products in flavors known to appeal to young people.
“The FDA is prepared to use all of its powers to ensure that these products, and others that are illegal and youth-appealing, are kept away from children. We are committed to a multi-pronged approach that uses regulatory, compliance and enforcement actions, and education to protect our nation’s young people,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf said in a statement. Press release.
Retail sales data play a critical role in developing strategies to prevent youth exposure and use of e-cigarettes. As of December 31, 2022, seven states and 378 jurisdictions have imposed restrictions on flavored e-cigarette sales. These measures are aimed at curbing young people’s exposure to the virus and ensuring their health and wellbeing.
Published by Medicaldaily.com