During COVID-19 lockdowns, people went back to smoking

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. cigarette unit sales had been declining at a faster rate, reaching 5.5% in 2019 as smokers quit or switched to alternatives such e-cigarettes. In the 12 months ended September 30, however, cigarette sales fell only by 1.5%, according to data from Altria Group, which manufactures Marlboro cigarettes. Altria says people had more scope for smoking because they spent more time at home and had more money to spend on cigarettes because they were spending less on gas, travel, and entertainment. Meanwhile, some e-cigarette users reverted to using combustible cigarettes because of increased e-cigarette taxes, prohibitions on flavored vaping products, and confusion over the health effects of vaping, according to industry officials and consumers. E-cigarette sales were strong in the fall of 2019, when CDC launched a probe into an outbreak of a new type of lung illness, and warned consumers not to use any vaping products. Sales subsequently plummeted. The illness later was linked to vitamin E oil in marijuana vaping products, but the public’s perception of e-cigarette safety failed to recover.