Online e-cigarette and vape retailers are facing criticism for not following regulations aimed at preventing the sale of vape products to minors. A recent study conducted by researchers at the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego revealed that many online sellers are not compliant with these regulations.
The study involved 16 individuals who attempted to purchase flavored vapes online and have them delivered to their homes in San Diego County. Out of 156 attempted transactions, 73% were processed, and 67% of orders were delivered. This indicates a significant lack of compliance with regulations designed to prevent the sale of vape products to minors.
According to the researchers, sales restrictions on flavored tobacco products have been implemented in eight U.S. states and 392 cities or counties. Despite these restrictions, the study found that it was still relatively easy to purchase flavored vaping products online, even in areas where they are supposed to be restricted. Some of the restrictions on online transactions were found to be ambiguous, particularly in states like California.
The purchases made in the study not only violated flavor restrictions but also breached the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act. This federal law prohibits the use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to ship vaping products and requires age verification and ID scanning upon delivery. However, the study revealed that only 1% of buyers had their IDs scanned, and 81% of deliveries were made via USPS.
Lead study author Dr. Eric Leas emphasized the ease with which flavored vaping products can be purchased online, highlighting the disregard for federal and state laws related to shipping requirements and age verification. This non-compliance poses a significant challenge to efforts aimed at curbing youth vaping.
To address this issue, Dr. Leas suggested implementing routine checks to monitor and enforce compliance among online retailers. Online e-cigarette sales represent a significant portion of the tobacco industry and are growing rapidly. Leas’ previous study found that online shopping queries for vape products were 162% higher than expected, underscoring the importance of regulating online vape sales.
The study’s findings have raised concerns among experts, with attorney Micah Berman pointing out that the FDA has yet to issue regulations addressing online sales of e-cigarettes, despite a mandate to do so under the Tobacco Control Act. Berman stressed the need for stronger enforcement measures to block illegal online sales and protect communities from the easy access to vape products.
As lawmakers and regulators work to strengthen oversight of tobacco sales, the study serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by non-compliant online vape sellers. The FDA has acknowledged the importance of addressing the findings of the study, signaling a potential shift towards stricter enforcement of regulations in the future.
