Use of Price Promotions Among U.S. Adults Who Use Electronic Vapor Products.

INTRODUCTION: Sales of electronic vapor products have increased in recent years. This increase in use may be related to manufacturer price promotions. This study assessed the use of price-related promotions among current electronic vapor product users.

METHODS: Data from the 2015 and 2016 Summer Styles, an Internet survey of U.S. adults aged ≥18 years, were analyzed in 2017. Current electronic vapor product users (n=300) were those who reported past 30-day electronic vapor product use. Price-related promotion use was defined as reported use of coupons, rebates, discount codes, or other special price-related promotions when purchasing electronic vapor products (e.g., electronic cigarettes [e-cigarettes], electronic hookah [e-hookah], or vape pens). Associations between price-related promotion use and sex, age, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, U.S. region, cigarette smoking status, electronic vapor product use frequency, place electronic vapor products were obtained, and survey year were assessed using multivariable logistic regression.

RESULTS: Among current electronic vapor product users, 15.0% reported using price-related promotions. The adjusted odds of using price-related promotions was significantly higher among respondents who obtained electronic vapor products from a gas station, grocery or drug store, or the Internet (AOR=2.65, 95% CI=1.22, 5.74) versus anywhere else (i.e., mall kiosks, vape shop, friends/family) and among those who used electronic vapor products ≥15 days in the past 30 days (AOR=2.57, 95% CI=1.18, 5.56) versus ≤14 days.

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one in seven current U.S. adult electronic vapor product users reported using price promotions during 2015-2016, and variations in price promotion use existed by electronic vapor product use frequency and where electronic vapor products were obtained. Continued monitoring of the use of price-related promotions could help inform public health policy, planning, and practice.