Price promotion receipt and use progression of any tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars among US youth between 2016 and 2018.

Background: Tobacco price promotions may prompt tobacco trials among youth. We assessed whether receiving price promotions for any tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars was associated with product use progression.

Methods: The analysis included a nationally representative sample of youth never tobacco users (aged 12-16; n=9405) from wave 4 (2016-2018) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. We assessed past-year receipt of price promotions and use progression (initiation, current use and ever regular use) for any tobacco, cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars 1 year later at wave 4.5 (2017-2018). Multivariable logistic regressions were used to examine the associations between receiving price promotions and use progression by product type, controlling for covariates.

Results: At wave 4.5, 9.4% of youth initiated any tobacco (1.8%, 7.8% and 0.9% for cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars), and 5.4% received any price promotions (3.8%, 3.1% and 0.9% for cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars). Receiving any tobacco price promotions was associated with any tobacco initiation (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.77; 95% CI 1.30 to 2.41), current use (AOR=1.54; 95% CI 1.06 to 2.23) and ever regular use (AOR=1.76; 95% CI 1.04 to 3.10). Receiving e-cigarette price promotions was associated with e-cigarette initiation (AOR=1.78; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.26), current use (AOR=1.88; 95% CI 1.17 to 3.02) and ever regular use (AOR=2.10; 95% CI 1.02 to 4.40). The associations specific to cigarettes and cigars were only found for product initiation.

Discussion: Receiving price promotions for any tobacco and e-cigarettes was respectively associated with the use progression of any tobacco and e-cigarettes. Continuous monitoring of tobacco marketing activities is needed to identify youth-appealing price promotion tactics.