U.S. voters broadly support a new approach to tobacco regulation
New survey reveals widespread dissatisfaction with the FDA’s job performance when it comes to regulating the tobacco industry and new nicotine-containing products, with strong majorities of likely voters expressing support for FDA reform.
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50%
believe the FDA has made little to no progress helping Americans live healthier lives.
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67%
say the FDA has not been focused on the most important public health priorities for the country.
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68%
believe American smokers should have access to a range of better, smoke-free nicotine-containing alternatives to cigarettes.
Varied opinions of the FDA’s performance
Likely voters in the U.S. deliver mixed reviews of the FDA’s effectiveness in recent years. A large majority agrees that real reform of the FDA is needed.
- Half of likely voters in the U.S. (50%) say the FDA has made little to no progress helping Americans live longer, healthier lives over the past three years.
- Related, 46% of likely voters say the FDA “has been distracted and has not been focused on the most important public health priorities for the country.”
- Only one-third (33%) say the FDA has been focused on the most important public health priorities for the country.
- Speaking of priorities, voters say the government’s top public health priorities should include improving mental health services (86%), encouraging healthier eating and more exercise (71%), and reducing cigarette smoking (61%).
Nearly three-fourths (74%) of likely voters agree that real reform of the agency is needed to ensure it is focused on developing policies which will help Americans live longer, healthier lives.
Clear support for FDA reform
Voters continue to support reform when it comes to the issue of federal tobacco regulation. In fact, more than two-thirds (68%) agree that a new approach is needed to reduce smoking rates because simply adding more taxes and restrictions to cigarettes will not be enough to discourage smokers.
Likely voters in the U.S. expect the FDA to keep pace with the changing landscape of smoke-free alternatives to cigarettes.
- Only half of likely voters (50%) are aware that the FDA is responsible for authorizing the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of new nicotine-containing products in the U.S.
- When informed that e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches were not on the market when the FDA began regulating tobacco products in 2009, 7 in 10 likely voters agree that reform of the agency is needed so the FDA can regulate these products appropriately.
- This desire for FDA reform is underpinned by a plurality (45%) expressing disapproval with the FDA’s job performance when it comes to regulating the tobacco industry and new nicotine-containing products.
- Only 36% approve of the agency’s job performance in this area.
A new approach to reducing smoking rates
More than half of likely voters (54%) agree that one way to reduce smoking rates is to adopt policies that encourage smokers to switch to FDA-authorized noncombustible alternatives which offer a better choice compared to smoking.
Clear majorities of likely voters support the following policy approaches which preserve access to these alternatives for adults and encourage switching from cigarettes.
- 68% agree that American smokers should have access to a wide range of better, smoke-free nicotine-containing alternatives to cigarettes to help them abandon cigarettes for good.
- 65% agree that products which have been authorized by the FDA as having modified-risk potential compared to smoking should be taxed lower than cigarettes to encourage switching but still taxed high enough to discourage use by youth and non-smokers.
- 57% agree that FDA-authorized smoke-free alternative products should be available in a wide range of flavors to help encourage adult smokers to use these products instead of cigarettes.
Survey methodology
RG Strategies and Peak Insights conducted 2000 national interviews between June 10th and June 13th, 2024. The survey was funded entirely by Philip Morris International (PMI). The survey used online panel and text-to-web contacts from state voter files. Respondents were likely November 2024 voters aged 21 and older. The survey was conducted in English and Spanish. The margin of the sampling error is ±2.2% at the 95% confidence level.