Abstract
ObjectiveThis project assesses how online vape shops (OVSs) verify buyer identification (ID) and the shipping methods used to send products within the USA.MethodologyIn January 2023, we conducted three online searches (eg, ‘best online vape shops’) from our office in Washington, District of Columbia, to identify popular OVSs. Two trained coders identified discrete features available within the site sections: ‘About Us’, ‘Shipping Policy’ and ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, or displayed within the site’s homepage. Coders recorded OVS listed locations, shipping discounts, shipping companies used and ID verification methods. Lastly, coders indicated if the site requested ID/age verification after adding an item to the shopping cart and initiating checkout procedures.ResultsWe identified 64 unique OVSs; 92.2% (n=59) offered shipping and 82.8% (n=53) shipped to US buyers; 76.6% (n=49) allowed visitors to type a birthday or choose the ‘21 or older’ option to access the site. Of the 59 sites shipping to buyers, 76.3% (n=45) offered free shipping, 21.9% (n=14) required login to purchase products, while most sites (n=45, 76.3%) allowed visitors to reach the checkout page without ID verification. The US Postal Service is the most commonly used shipping carrier (n=23), in violation of the Preventing All Cigarette Trafficking Act.ConclusionsMost OVSs rely on age self-certification, which underage youth can easily exploit to access these products. Findings warrant that the Food and Drug Administration, state and local policymakers explore additional actions regulating online tobacco sales to address the compliance issues our data elucidate. These include enhanced surveillance, compliance checks and stricter penalties.
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health (social science)
Reference30 articles.
1. Faverio M , Anderson M . For shopping, phones are common and Influencers have become a factor – especially for young adults. Pew research center. 2022. Available: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/21/for-shopping-phones-are-common-and-influencers-have-become-a-factor-especially-for-young-adults/ [Accessed 16 May 2023].
2. Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2022
3. Grandview Research . E-cigarette and vape market share & growth report, 2030. Available: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/e-cigarette-vaping-market [Accessed 15 Feb 2023].
4. Mordor Intelligence . US E-cigarettes market size & share analysis - industry research report - growth trends. Available: https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/united-states-e-cigarettes-market [Accessed 10 May 2023].
5. Young adult E-cigarette use and retail exposure in 6 US metropolitan areas;Berg;Tob Regul Sci,2021