E-Liquid Purchase as a Function of Workplace Restriction in the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace

E-cigarette use is prohibited in most smoke-free environments. The effect of this policy on tobacco consumption could be examined using the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace (ETM). The ETM allows observation of policy on smokers' purchasing behavior under conditions that simulate real-world circumstances. A within-subject design was used to evaluate the effect of workplace policy (Vaping Allowed vs. Not Allowed) and nicotine concentration (24 mg/mL vs. 0 mg/mL) on tobacco product consumption. Participants (n = 31) completed one sampling and two ETM/workplace sessions per week for 2 weeks. During the sampling session, participants were given an e-cigarette with a 2-day supply of a commercially available e-liquid of their preferred flavor. Before purchasing, participants were informed whether e-cigarette use was permitted. During the four ETM sessions, participants purchased for the following 24 hr, including the 4-hr work shift that started immediately after buying products in the ETM. The workplace session consisted of data entry tasks in a mock office environment. Participants could use any purchased tobacco products during two 15-min breaks. Condition order was counterbalanced. The results show that permitting E-cigarette use in the workplace increased e-liquid purchase on average, but nicotine concentration had no effect on e-liquid demand. Cigarette demand was unaltered across conditions. The present study suggests that allowing e-cigarette use in the workplace would increase demand for e-liquid regardless of nicotine strength. However, it would not change conventional cigarette demand. Public Significance Statement This study uses behavioral economics methods to observe nicotine product purchasing in a simulated workplace with different e-cigarette policies and nicotine doses. We found that the e-cigarette policy exhibited stimulus control over purchasing but that this was additive as opposed to substitutive. Basic analysis suggests that nicotine gum might be a valuable focus for further studies.

Automated summary

This study used the Experimental Tobacco Marketplace to examine the effect of workplace policies and nicotine concentrations on tobacco product consumption. The results showed that allowing e-cigarette use in the workplace increased demand for e-liquid, regardless of nicotine strength, while conventional cigarette demand remained unchanged. The study suggests that e-cigarette policies have a stimulus control effect on purchasing behavior, but are not substitutive for traditional cigarettes.