Parents' Cigarette Purchases During COVID-19: Evidence From NielsenIQ Consumer Panel Data

Although national sales of cigarettes increased by 14% during the first months of COVID-19, which households bought more cigarettes is not yet known. This study illustrates which households bought more cigarettes during COVID-19 and examines whether changes were related to parental status and race/ethnicity.

Using 2019 and 2020 NielsenIQ consumer panel data on U.S. households, a cohort study using fixed-effects regressions was conducted to test for changes within households in the probability of purchasing any cigarettes and the number of cigarettes before and after the onset of the pandemic. Analyses were conducted to examine whether Black and Hispanic parents changed their purchase behavior differently compared with comparison households. Analyses were conducted in 2024.

After COVID-19, the average household was not more likely to buy cigarettes, and Hispanic parents were about 10% less likely to buy. The average smoking household bought about 11 more cigarettes per week. Black parents who smoked bought about 25 additional cigarettes per week.

There was minimal take-up of smoking during COVID-19, but those who already smoked bought an extra half a pack per week. Black parents who smoked nearly doubled the number of weekly cigarettes they bought. There is a risk of increased secondhand smoke exposure for Black children during COVID-19, potentially worsening racial health gaps.