Exclusive and Dual Use of Electronic Cigarettes Among European Youth in 32 Countries with Different Regulatory Landscapes

Background: The Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) partially harmonised the regulation of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in Europe, but individual countries maintain jurisdiction over bans on use in public places, domestic advertising, taxation and flavour regulations. Their association with youth e-cigarette use has not been examined.

Methods: We used the cross-sectional 2019 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs data from 32 countries with 98 758 students aged 15-16 years and the 2020 WHO's assessment of the e-cigarette regulations. Multilevel logistic regression models on ever (vs never) and current (vs non-current) exclusive e-cigarette use, exclusive cigarette use and dual use by e-cigarette regulations' composite score were adjusted for age, gender, parental education, perceived family's financial well-being, perceived difficulty of obtaining cigarettes, country income level and general progress in tobacco control.

Results: Of the respondents, 13.3% had ever used cigarettes, 10.6% e-cigarettes and 27.3% both; 13.0% currently used cigarettes, 6.0% e-cigarettes and 6.4% both. Higher composite country score in the e-cigarette regulations was associated with lower current exclusive e-cigarette use (OR=0.78; 95% CI 0.65 to 0.94) and current dual use (OR=0.80; 95% CI 0.67 to 0.95). Youth perceiving more difficulties in obtaining cigarettes were less likely to use cigarettes, e-cigarettes and both ever and currently (OR from 0.80 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.85) to 0.94 (95% CI 0.92 to 0.96)).

Conclusions: More comprehensive e-cigarette regulations and enforcement of age-of-sale laws may be protective of e-cigarette and dual use among adolescents.