ASPiRE’s Page Dobbs co-authored a study of tweets following the Dec. 20, 2019 law immediately raising the minimum legal sales age of tobacco products to 21 years. Researchers examined more than 4,600 tweets in the three months leading up to the date of the law and found that most were neutral (46.2%) or negative (38.8%), with most discussions generated from news coverage. “Understanding themes of public sentiment—as well as when Twitter activity is most active—will help public health professionals to optimize health promotion activities to increase community readiness and respond to enforcement needs including education for retailers and the general public,” the authors concluded.

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