The Effects of Tobacco Flavor Restrictions on Tobacco Retail Businesses

This Report was written by John A. Tauras, Frank J. Chaloupka, Karl Eugene R. Braganza, Megan C. Diaz, and Emily Donovan. The report assesses the effect of policies that restrict the sal of flavored tobacco products on tobacco retail businesses. Specifically, the researchers use data from tobacco stores, convenience stores, and convenience stores with gas stations in the United States. Despite concerns that such policies harm tobacco retailers, the findings suggest that these restrictions have no negative effect on retail businesses. There was not a significant effect on the number of these stores, the number of employees, or the real wages paid to the employees. This report affirms that tobacco retailers are able to adapt to changing market conditions and continue to sell tobacco and vaping products, in line with previous research.