The impacts of product characteristics and regulatory environment on smokers’ preferences for tobacco and alcohol: Evidence from a volumetric choice experiment

作者：Shaoying Ma, Ce Shang, Van Vuong, Jidong Huang, Terry F. Pechacek, Scott R. Weaver · 发表于：PLoS ONE · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1371/journal.pone.0320023 · 被引用次数：3 · 研究领域：Smoking Behavior and Cessation、Economic and Environmental Valuation、Consumer Market Behavior and Pricing

OBJECTIVE: Concurrent use of alcohol and cigarettes is well-documented in the literature. However, it is unclear how e-cigarette regulations in a growing number of localities impact the use of tobacco and alcohol in the US. This study aims to evaluate the impacts of excise taxes, tobacco use restrictions in restaurants/bars, and availability of alcohol flavor in e-cigarettes on tobacco consumption, and their cross impacts on alcohol consumption. METHOD: A total of 181 US adult smokers who were using e-cigarettes and consuming alcohol participated in online volumetric choice experiments and reported on the quantity they would purchase among cigarettes, closed-system e-cigarettes, beer, and one other alcohol product (wine/liquor) under varying policy scenarios. RESULTS: Estimated own-price elasticities of demand for beer, liquor/wine, and cigarettes were -0.10, -0.11, and -0.16, respectively (p < 0.001). Higher beer (cross-price elasticity = 0.13) and liquor/wine prices (cross-price elasticity = 0.05) increased e-cigarette consumption (p < 0.05). If e-cigarettes were allowed in bars/restaurants, their consumption increased by 2.4 units (p < 0.001), and if cigarettes were allowed in bars/restaurants, e-cigarette consumption increased by 1.9 units (p < 0.01), relative to the mean consumption level. Greater reported weekly spending on alcohol and/or tobacco was associated with higher consumption of all products (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher taxes or prices may reduce the consum...