[Should advertising for electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products be banned in Germany? Results of a representative survey (DEBRA study)]

Sabrina Kastaun; Daniel Kotz

doi:10.1007/s00103-019-03017-6

[Should advertising for electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products be banned in Germany? Results of a representative survey (DEBRA study)]

Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2019 Nov;62(11):1391-1396. doi: 10.1007/s00103-019-03017-6.

[Article in German]

Authors

Sabrina Kastaun¹, Daniel Kotz^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Schwerpunkt Suchtforschung und klinische Epidemiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Postfach 101007, 40001, Düsseldorf, Deutschland. Sabrina.Kastaun@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
² Institut für Allgemeinmedizin, Schwerpunkt Suchtforschung und klinische Epidemiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Postfach 101007, 40001, Düsseldorf, Deutschland.
³ Department of Behavioural Science and Health, University College London, London, Großbritannien.

PMID: 31523755
DOI: 10.1007/s00103-019-03017-6

Abstract

Background: The German federal parliament is discussing the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco advertising ban and whether that ban should include alternative nicotine delivery systems (ANDSs), such as e‑cigarettes and tobacco heaters. It would be important to know which outcome the general population, and in particular the users of tobacco/ANDSs, would prefer.

Objective: Assessing public support for a comprehensive advertising ban on ANDSs in the German population, and particularly in tobacco and ANDSs users.

Material and methods: The German Study on Tobacco Use ("Deutsche Befragung zum Rauchverhalten", DEBRA) is an ongoing, representative household survey of persons aged 14 years and older. Data from the June/July 2019 survey wave (n = 2019) were analysed. Participants were interviewed regarding their tobacco smoking status and ANDS use, sociodemographic factors, and their support of an advertising ban on ANDSs. Prevalence rates and associations (odds ratio, OR) between support and sociodemographic factors or use of tobacco/ANDSs are reported.

Results: Of the population, 57.0% (95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 54.7-59.1%) support a ban on ANDS advertising; 11.1% (95%CI = 9.8-12.6%) reject it. There is support for the ban from 46.0% (95%CI = 42.2-49.9%) of current tobacco smokers and 42.7% (95%CI = 35.9-49.6%) of ANDS users. Ex-smokers show the highest rates of support (64.8%, 95%CI = 58.9-70.3%). Acceptance among never- and ex-smokers is higher than among current smokers (adjusted OR 2.06, 95%CI = 1.64-2.59 and OR 1.65, 95%CI = 1.23-2.21).

Conclusions: The majority of the German population supports a comprehensive advertising ban on ANDSs. Tobacco smokers and ANDS users are also more in favour of than against such a ban. Thus, only little resistance will be expected within the population if a comprehensive tobacco advertising ban, as currently discussed in parliament, includes e‑cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Heated tobacco products; National survey; Public opinion; Tobacco advertising ban.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Advertising*
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems*
Germany
Humans
Legislation as Topic*
Nicotiana / adverse effects*
Public Opinion*
Smoke-Free Policy
Smoking / adverse effects*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tobacco Industry / legislation & jurisprudence
Tobacco Products