Awareness and perceived behaviour changes following the New York state vaping flavour ban, 2021-2022.

Significance: Despite an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) flavour ban in New York (NY) since May 2020, most youth who vape continue to report vaping restricted flavours. This study aims to examine youth awareness and perceived behaviour change associated with the NY vaping flavour ban.

Methods: NY cross-sectional data from 2021 and 2022 ITC Youth Survey were combined and analysed (N=1014). Weighted analyses were used to describe awareness and understanding of the e-cigarette flavour ban, as well as changes in tobacco use behaviour.

Results: Only 0.9% (n=8) of NY youth understood the flavour ban, in that they were both aware of the flavour ban in all stores and accurately reported that all non-tobacco flavours were banned. Awareness and understanding of the flavour ban differed by vaping status (p<0.01): respondents who had vaped in the past 12 months or 30 days were more likely (adjusted OR (aOR)=2.15, 95% CI 1.34, 3.45; aOR=2.07, 95% CI 1.17, 3.64, respectively) to be aware of the flavour ban but misunderstand the stores or flavours included. Of the majority of youth who reported awareness of a flavour ban and vaped (n=122) or smoked (n=78) in the past 12 months reported no changes in behaviour (64.0% and 69.7%, respectively).

Conclusions: Less than one-third of NY youth, regardless of vaping status, reported that an e-cigarette flavour ban was present where they live. Further, most youth who were aware of the ban misunderstood which flavours were restricted and/or that the ban applied to all stores that sold e-cigarettes. Increased enforcement and educational efforts could improve awareness and understanding of the NY e-cigarette flavour ban.