UNC Tobacco Convenience Store

UNC Tobacco Convenience Store Study

The main purpose of this trial is to evaluate the impact of a menthol cigarette ban accompanied by a quit smoking campaign on tobacco purchasing behavior. Investigators will conduct a randomized clinical trial with ~1,185 US adults (ages 21+ years) who currently smoke menthol cigarettes.

This trial aims to determine whether a quit smoking campaign amplifies the impact of a simulated menthol cigarette ban. The trial will enroll ~1,185 adults ages 21 years and older who currently smoke menthol cigarettes. Participants will attend 2 in-person study visits at our experimental store, spaced approximately 1 week apart. The store will be stocked with a variety of tobacco products, food, non-alcoholic beverages, and household goods. At the first visit, participants will provide written informed consent and will be randomized to 1 of 3 trial arms, described further below. At both study visits, participants will shop for items in the store and complete computer surveys. Researchers will record in-store purchases and other self-reported measures will be assessed via the computer surveys. In between the in-person study visits, participants will receive ads via text message based on their trial arm.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Are ages 21 years and older
• Smoke cigarettes currently (i.e. currently smoke some days or every day and have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime)
• Smoke menthol cigarettes
• Purchased menthol cigarettes in a store in the past month
• Read and speak English
• Can complete a survey on a computer without help
• Can receive images by text message
• Can attend 2 in-person appointments involving shopping tasks and computer surveys

Exclusion Criteria:

• Are pregnant
• Are breastfeeding
• Enrolled currently in another research study about quitting smoking