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. 2022 Oct 28;31(Suppl 3):s197–s205. doi: 10.1136/tc-2022-057454

Table 2.

E-cigarette user-identified clusters and statements describing a specific action/reaction if the only e-liquid flavours available for purchase in the USA were tobacco-only flavour, menthol-only flavour or unflavoured (and no other flavours)

Cluster Statement Average rating
Negative reaction to flavour limitation 4.68
34. I would think consumers have a right to choose what they want to buy. 5.84
69. I would think that limiting the flavours is silly. 5.36
26. I would feel bad for the people that liked different flavors. 5.00
1. I would hate it because I enjoy vaping with flavored e-liquid as an outlet. 4.88
50. I would not like the flavors being banned. 4.82
48. I would hate it since it did help me/others quit cigarettes. 4.76
46. I would be annoyed. 4.62
7. I think that using the same flavor would get boring after a while. 4.47
23. I would be upset. 4.44
53. I would panic. 2.60
Willingness to try new flavours 4.43
19. Try the new e-liquids and if they were tolerable, I would keep vaping. 4.70
20. Vape/try the menthol flavored e-liquid to see if I liked it. 4.52
31. Vape/try the unflavored e-liquid to see if I liked it. 4.50
10. Vape/try the tobacco flavored e-liquid to see if I liked it. 4.48
68. I would be curious about the unflavored e-liquid and be interested in trying it. 3.94
Perception of youth prevention effectiveness 4.04
3. I would think limiting flavors will not stop kids from vaping. 4.84
42. I would wonder if having less flavors would reduce vaping among youth. 4.26
58. I would be happy that kids are not being targeted with flavored e-liquids. 3.88
54. I would think that it might make vaping less tempting to youth who shouldn’t be using tobacco and/or nicotine products. 3.86
61. Lose all respect for the U.S. government. 3.38
Alternative sources for banned flavours 3.95
9. Stock up on the e-liquid I currently use. 5.44
18. Try to find a place that still has the flavored e-liquid. 5.28
47. I would buy my current e-liquid flavors online. 4.80
56. Talk to friends to find another option. 3.58
5. Encourage others to make their own e-liquid. 3.56
71. Find a way to order flavored e-liquid from outside the U.S. 3.56
16. Look into buying flavored e-liquids off the dark web. 2.82
65. Buy ‘black market’ e-liquid. 2.56
Maintain vaping behaviours with new liquids 3.93
17. Vape about the same as I do with my current e-liquid flavor(s). 4.68
33. I would eventually adapt to the limited flavors. 4.50
8. My e-liquid buying habits would stay the same. 4.10
30. I would be fine as long as menthol/mint flavored e-liquid is available. 3.88
27. I would vape only menthol or unflavored e-liquids. 3.72
40. I would enjoy the menthol flavored e-liquid – menthol is good. 3.44
22. Alternate between tobacco only and menthol only flavors. 3.18
Tolerance of flavour limitation 3.63
67. It would bother me, but not enough to go out and actively do anything about it. 3.88
24. I like menthol flavored e-liquid, but it does get boring after a while. 3.76
51. I would be mad, but I would tolerate the flavor ban. 3.60
15. I would try these new flavors, but I do not think I would like them. 3.28
Acceptance of flavour limitation 3.61
62. I would be grateful that all e-liquid was not banned. 4.36
36. I would not do anything about the flavors being limited. 4.10
64. Even though I mainly use the tobacco flavor, I like having the option to try something new. 3.84
44. I would remain content since I only use these flavors anyway. 3.72
41. I would not be bothered if e-liquid flavors were limited. 3.60
4. I would think menthol and non-menthol are how cigarettes come, so it makes sense for e-liquid too. 3.56
14. I like many different flavors, but I would not be affected by the flavor ban. 3.46
70. I would be fine with limiting e-liquid flavors to tobacco, menthol, and unflavored only. 3.46
38. I would think this is perfect. 2.42
Take action against flavour limitation 3.58
29. I would be concerned about illegal or black market e-liquid flavors being put on the market. 4.94
66. Never vote for anyone who backed this flavor ban. 3.62
21. I would do whatever I could to fight the flavor ban. 3.58
60. I would protest the flavor limitation. 3.54
45. Post about the flavor limitation on social media. 3.50
52. I would write every representative I can to complain about the flavor ban. 3.10
49. Call customer service. 2.78
Do-it-yourself mixing behaviours 3.44
37. Add different flavors to the new e-liquids. 3.94
6. I would make my own or learn how to make my own e-liquid. 3.58
2. Use/add CBD oil in my e-liquid. 3.32
32. Add essential oils to the new e-liquid. 2.92
New flavours as vaping cessation transition 3.23
13. Change my habit to something else besides vaping. 3.70
43. Try the new e-liquids and if I didn’t like them, I would try to stop vaping. 3.20
35. I would use menthol flavored e-liquid and work on quitting vaping. 3.18
25. I would use the tobacco flavored e-liquid and work on quitting vaping. 3.10
59. I would use the unflavored e-liquid and work on quitting vaping. 2.98
Reduce vaping 3.23
39. I would consider quitting vaping if my particular flavor was affected. 3.46
11. Slowly taper my vaping down. 3.42
55. I would vape less. 3.20
28. I would quit vaping. 2.84
Alternate tobacco products 2.73
12. I would smoke cigarettes. 3.76
63. Buy a hookah pipe or hookah tower. 2.34
57. I would use smokeless tobacco (ie, dip, chew, snus, etc.). 2.10

Note: mean ratings are based on responses to the prompt ‘If e-liquid flavors were limited so that the only e-liquid flavors available for purchase in the U.S. were tobacco only flavor, menthol only flavor, or unflavored (and no other flavors), what is a specific action you would take or a specific reaction you would have?’ using a seven-point scale from 1 (definitely not true for me) to 7 (definitely true for me). Statement numbers refer to point numbers displayed in figure 1.