Flavored Tobacco Sales Prohibition (2009) and Noncigarette Tobacco Products in Retail Stores (2017), New York City

Abstract

Objectives. To assess explicit- (products clearly labeled flavored) and emergent concept- (products implying flavoring but not clearly labeled) flavored tobacco product availability following New York City’s flavor restriction.Methods. We examined explicit- and concept-flavored tobacco product availability, with 2017 New York City Retailer Advertising of Tobacco Survey data (n = 1557 retailers). We assessed associations between block group–level demographic characteristics and product availability by using logistic regression.Results. Most retailers sold explicit-flavored (70.9%) or concept-flavored (69.3%) products. The proportion of non-Hispanic Black neighborhood residents predicted explicit- and concept-flavored product availability, as did having a high school within a retailer’s block group for concept-flavored products.Conclusions. Explicit- and concept-flavored other tobacco products persisted throughout New York City, despite 2009 legislation restricting sales.Public Health Implications. Making local sales restrictions or federal production bans inclusive of all explicit and concept flavors would reduce retailer and industry evasion opportunities and protect the health of youths and others.