THURS-066 - Examining Support for Tobacco Endgame Policies Among US Adults

Brief Abstract Summary: Tobacco continues to pose a serious public health challenge for the US, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups. Tobacco Endgame policies are designed to address health inequities in tobacco-related outcomes. This study examined public support for tobacco Endgame policies. A cross-sectional survey of 500 U.S. adults, measured support for 36 policies across 6 different categories: Pricing and Nicotine Levels, Product Placement and Packaging, Smoke-Free Housing, Retailer Location and Density, Direct Sales Restrictions, and Eliminating Penalties for Underage Use. Results indicated varying levels of support, with the highest for Pricing and Nicotine Levels and the lowest for Eliminating Penalties for Underage Use. The linear regressions models showed that current smokers and Republicans were less supportive across categories. Further research is needed to explore and understand additional factors that may influence policy support and strategies to promote Endgame policies.

Detailed abstract description: Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the US, which disproportionately affects marginalized populations. To address these health inequalities, tobacco Endgame policies are there to reduce tobacco availability and to encourage the end of tobacco sales for commercial purposes. This study examined level of support for tobacco endgame policies among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a Likert scale (1 being strongly opposed and 6 strongly supported) with 500 participants through a Qualtrics Survey Panel. Participants rated their support for 36 different policies, including: Direct Sales Restrictions, Retailer Focused Location and Density policies, Product Placement and Packaging Policies, Pricing policies and Nicotine Level Policies, Smokefree and Multiunit Housing Policies, and Eliminating Penalties for Underage Use. The results showed varying support for the categories. The highest support was observed for Pricing and Nicotine Level Policies (M=4.27, SD=1.39), followed by Product Placement and Packaging Policies (M=4.14, SD=1.25), and Smoke-Free and Multiunit Housing Policies (M=4.12, SD=1.19). Retailer Focused Location and Density Policies received moderate support (M=3.86, SD=1.29), while Direct Sales Restrictions (M=3.55, SD=1.44) and Eliminating Penalties for Underage Use (M=2.61, SD=1.48) had the lowest support. Linear regression analyses revealed that being a current smoker and identifying as Republican were associated with lower support across all policy categories. These findings suggest that demographic and behavioral factors significantly influence public attitudes towards tobacco Endgame policies. The study emphasizes the need for focused communication strategies to increase support within specific demographics, especially among smokers. This study highlights the variation in support for types of tobacco Endgame policies and how the level support may vary by demographic and political views. In addition to examining the long-term effects of tobacco Endgame policies on tobacco use and health outcomes, future studies should investigate other factors influencing policy support, such as cultural views and exposure to tobacco control campaigns.