This study investigates associations between the strength of local Tobacco Retail Licensing (TRL) laws and adult tobacco use patterns (i.e., cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual use), and differences by sociodemographic characteristics, using California as a case study. Authors merged data from the American Lung Association's (ALA) State of Tobacco Control Reports and the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) from 2016 to 2022. The ALA local policy grades were recoded as strongest (highest grade) versus weaker (all other grades). Using quantitative methods, multilevel multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to examine the relationship between the strength of local TRL laws and cigarette and e-cigarette single and dual use among adults aged 25 and older, nesting by city/town. The potential for effect modification by including interaction terms for race and ethnicity, income, and education in separate models was also examined.

Findings: No associations existed between stronger TRL grades and exclusive cigarette, e-cigarette or dual use in any of the models. Neither were there statistically significant interactions by race and ethnicity, income, or education. These null findings suggest that while TRL laws may potentially be useful to restrict adolescent access, local TRL strength may have few impacts on adult nicotine consumption.