Point-of-sale, court-ordered, cigarette-related corrective statements: population prevalence of exposure and reactions

What the paper says

Objective To estimate the prevalence of US adults’ exposure to point-of-sale corrective statements about the health effects, addictiveness, and deceptive marketing of cigarettes, as well as reactions to these messages. Methods We analysed data from the 2024 Health Information National Trends Survey, a cross-sectional, nationally representative sample of the US civilian non-institutionalised population aged 18+ (March–September 2024, N=7278). Weighted multivariable logistic regression models estimated associations of tobacco use, sociodemographic characteristics and perceptions of conflicting health recommendations with self-reported exposure and reactions. Results In 2024, 36.5% of US adults reported seeing point-of-sale corrective statements. Individuals who currently smoked (52.9%) were more likely to report exposure compared with those who never (34.7%) or formerly smoked (34.3%). Among those exposed, 53.6% trusted the information, 49.3% supported the court’s mandate, 26.5% thought about friends/family who smoke and 7.9% wanted to look for more information about smoking risks. 41.1% of individuals who currently smoked and saw the statements reported thinking about quitting. Multivariable analyses indicated that those who smoked or used non-cigarette tobacco products were more likely to report exposure and less likely to support the mandate, while individuals who believed that health recommendations often conflict were less likely to trust the information. Conclusions About one in three US adults—and about half of people who smoke—reported noticing point-of-sale corrective statements in 2024. Although exposure rates were relatively consistent across sociodemographic groups, variations in individual reactions point to a need for strategies that enhance the impact of corrective statements, particularly among those who smoke.