An Experimental Evaluation of Menthol-Flavored Tobacco Accessories

Participants will participate in five sampling trials (menthol cigarette, non-menthol cigarette, non-menthol cigarette mentholated with accessory 1, with accessory 2, and with accessory 3). They will be exposed to these trials in a randomized order. In each trial, participants will take four guided puffs from one cigarette. They will have a 20-minute washout period between trials. They will first complete subjective ratings for the product they just sampled. Then, during the washout period, participants will be instructed to rinse their mouth thoroughly with room-temperature water three times. Each rinse will last approximately 10 seconds, and participants will be guided to swish the water around all areas of the mouth before expectorating. A one-minute rest will follow each rinse to allow residual taste to dissipate. No food or drink will be allowed during this period.

Participants will complete the real Experimental Tobacco Marketplace consisting of one control trial and two menthol flavor restrictions (menthol cigarettes unavailable and both menthol cigarettes and menthol-flavored accessories unavailable). Participants will complete a total of 3 purchasing trials each for 7 days worth of products. In each trial, participants will buy tobacco products to use throughout the next 7 days. At the end of the session, the participant will randomly draw an individual purchasing trial and will receive all the products purchased at that trial to use over the next week. During the following 7 days, the participant is asked to use only the tobacco/nicotine products received during the study.

Participants will complete a hypothetical purchase task where the price of a variety of products will increase progressively during the task.