Kingsley M, Setodji CM, Pane JD, et al. - Researchers investigated how a flavored tobacco restriction policy could influence youth access to, and use of, flavored tobacco products in a Massachusetts community in short-term. They matched a community with the policy (Lowell) to a community without the policy (Malden) with similar demographics, retailer features, and point-of-sale tobacco policies. In the 2 communities, product inventories were evaluated in tobacco retailers, and surveys were performed in high school–aged youth in those communities. From baseline to follow-up periods, a significant reduction (by 70 percentage points) was evident in the availability of flavored tobacco in Lowell, whereas there were no significant changes in flavored tobacco availability in Malden. In Lowell, a reduction was evident in current use of both flavored and non-flavored tobacco, but this was found to be increased in Malden from baseline to follow-up; these shifts significantly varied between communities. Experts concluded that youth tobacco use can potentially be curbed in as few as 6 months via implementation of policies that restrict the sale of flavored tobacco.