Growing A Smokeless America
The Data Behind Underage Use
At Reynolds American, we support strong underage access prevention efforts and science‑based, responsible nicotine regulation that reflects real‑world data and adult nicotine consumer preferences. We believe effective policy can continue to reduce underage access while also supporting adult smokers who are seeking alternative products to combustible cigarettes.
What The Data Shows
Source: Past National Youth Tobacco Surveys and National Youth Tobacco Survey 2011-2025, High School and Middle School Combined
Regulatory decisions can have wide ranging effects on public health outcomes, consumer behavior, and unintended consequences. That’s why it matters to look at what the data shows, including long‑term trends in youth and adult nicotine consumption.
The most recent National Youth Tobacco Survey highlights important trends across cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
Illicit disposable products drive remaining underage use.
These findings point to a market reality where illicit, unregulated disposable products, not regulated, compliant products, account for the majority of the remaining underage exposure. And the data shows that flavors alone are not driving product uptake.
74% decrease in youth usage of vapor products,
under 2% smoking & nicotine pouch use.
