Marketing of flavor capsule cigarettes: a systematic review.
Kyriakos N, Zatonski MZ, Filippidis FT, et al. Marketing of flavor capsule cigarettes: a systematic review. Tobacco Control. Online First. 2022 | This systematic review which included 40 studies from 2009-2021 identified marketing elements of flavor capsule variants (FCVs), cigarettes that release flavor when a capsule(s) embedded in the filter is crushed.
“Findings suggest FCVs are marketed using a mix of strategies, particularly characterized by product innovation, timing market launches around tobacco policies, point-of-sale advertising, and packaging to communicate a high-tech, customizable and flavorful product. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2022/01/17/tobaccocontrol-2021-057082.full
Findings illuminate the marketing strategies of FCVs that are likely driving their global growth, particularly among young people and in low and middle-income countries. Comprehensive tobacco control regulations are needed to close loopholes and curb industry efforts to circumvent existing policies in order to mitigate uptake of FCVs and other product innovations.”
Comment: Flavor capsule variants are a means to circumvent regulations against flavored tobacco products, especially popular flavors like menthol.
Stephen Hamann
