Introduction: Cigar products, including cigarillos, have increased in popularity in the U.S. and are disproportionately used by young adults. Cigarillo product characteristics can influence consumer perceptions and the appeal of these characteristics can vary by subgroup. The goal of this study was to examine a) product characteristics important to young adult cigarillo users and b) differences based on demographics and cigarillo and other tobacco/substance use behaviors.
Methods: In 2016, a convenience sample of 628 past-year cigarillo users rated the importance of the following cigarillo product characteristics when choosing a cigarillo to smoke tobacco: brand, tobacco filler quality, tobacco wrap quality, flavors, price, package graphic design, and number of cigars in the pack. Differences in mean importance by demographic, cigarillo use and other tobacco/substance use characteristics were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA tests.
Results: The most important cigarillo product characteristics were price, quality of tobacco wrap, and flavors. The least important was graphic design of packaging. There were differences in importance by demographics and/or cigar and other tobacco/substance use behaviors for all product characteristics. In particular, pack size was rated as more important among current cigarillo users, users of foil pouches (2-3 cigarillos) or cardboard/paper boxes or other packaging styles, and current users of cigarettes, blunts and marijuana. Price was rated as more important among Hispanic/Latino and lower income smokers, and current cigarette and blunt smokers.
Conclusions: Findings suggest cigarillo users prioritize different product characteristics depending on their demographics or smoking behavior. Further research is needed to examine whether various cigar-related policies, such as those that ban flavors or set minimum pack sizes, could impact sub-populations of cigarillo users differently.