Cigarillos: Smaller packs more popular with young people

According to a study published in the journal Tobacco Control, the size of cigarillo packs is a significant factor in the choice of young smokers, who show a tendency to prefer smaller packs, which are sold proportionally less expensive than larger packs. The researchers are considering setting a minimum size for cigarillo packs, to limit their appeal to younger people.

The study involved a sample of 1,032 young adults in the United States, aged 18 to 30, who had smoked cigarillos in the year preceding the survey. The researchers sought to assess the importance of cigarillo pack size on intentions to purchase and smoke these products.[1].

A preference for small packages, sold proportionally less expensively

The authors of the study sought to assess purchasing behaviors on three quantities of cigarillos: single sales, packs of two cigarillos, and packs of five cigarillos. According to the study, by respecting the pricing conditions under which these tobacco products are sold, it appears that young consumers show a tendency to prefer single purchases and purchases in packs of two cigarillos, rather than in packs of five units. The researchers then focused on analyzing behaviors by modifying the prices of cigarillos, so that the unit price of a cigarillo does not vary, regardless of the size of the packaging in which it is sold. Under these conditions, the researchers showed that young consumers were more likely to turn to packs of five cigarillos. According to the researchers, the adoption of a minimum size for cigarillo packs could contribute to reducing the appeal of these products, particularly among younger generations.

No minimum size for these tobacco products, unlike cigarettes

In the United States, as in France, there are no regulations imposing a minimum size for cigarillo packaging, while cigarettes cannot be sold in packs of less than twenty units. However, the authors of the study emphasize that small packages have a real appeal to consumers. Thus, in the United States, sales of cigarillos in packs of two or three have increased from 1% of sales in 2008 to more than 40% in recent years. This situation is explained by the fact that manufacturers have implemented promotional pricing policies for smaller packages: individually, a cigarillo is sold proportionally less expensive than a cigarillo in a larger pack. These promotional strategies can be explained in particular by the fact that tobacco products sold individually, or in small packages, have greater commercial success, particularly among young consumers.

Keywords: Cigarillos

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[1] Mays D, Johnson AC, Jeong M, et al, Tobacco minimum packaging policy to reduce cigarillo use among young people: results of an experimental study, Tobacco Control Published Online First: 15 July 2022. doi: 10.1136/tc-2022-057304

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