Public Support for Electronic Cigarette Regulation in Hong Kong: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

• Main Authors: Yee Tak Derek Cheung, Man Ping Wang, Sai Yin Ho, Nan Jiang, Antonio Kwong, Vienna Lai, Tai Hing Lam
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2017-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: electronic nicotine delivery devices; public opinion; public policy; surveillance and monitoring; advocacy
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/7/709

This study aimed to gauge the Hong Kong’s public support towards new e-cigarette regulation, and examine the associated factors of the support. We conducted a two-stage, randomized cross-sectional telephone-based survey to assess the public support towards the banning of e-cigarette promotion and advertisement, its use in smoke-free venues, the sale to people aged under 18, and regulating the sale of nicotine-free e-cigarettes. Adults (aged 15 years or above) who were never smoking (n = 1706), ex-smoking (n = 1712) or currently smoking (n = 1834) were included. Over half (57.8%) supported all the four regulations. Banning of e-cigarette promotion and advertisement (71.7%) received slightly less support than the other three regulations (banning of e-cigarette use in smoke-free venues (81.5%); banning of e-cigarette sale to minors (93.9%); sale restriction of nicotine-free e-cigarettes (80.9%)). Current smokers, and perceiving e-cigarettes as less harmful than traditional cigarettes or not knowing the harmfulness, were associated with a lower level of support. Our findings showed a strong public support for further regulation of e-cigarettes in Hong Kong. Current stringent measures on tobacco and e-cigarettes, and media reports on the harmfulness of e-cigarettes may underpin the strong support for the regulation.