How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review

Abstract Background Despite measures to reduce young people’s access to electronic cigarettes (ECs), or “vapes”, many countries have recorded rising youth vaping prevalence. We summarised studies documenting how underage youth in countries with minimum age sales restrictions (or where sales are bann...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Anna Graham-DeMello, Janet Hoek, Jonathan Drew
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2023-09-01
Series:BMC Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16755-9
_version_ 1797555883290394624
author Anna Graham-DeMello
Janet Hoek
Jonathan Drew
author_facet Anna Graham-DeMello
Janet Hoek
Jonathan Drew
author_sort Anna Graham-DeMello
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Despite measures to reduce young people’s access to electronic cigarettes (ECs), or “vapes”, many countries have recorded rising youth vaping prevalence. We summarised studies documenting how underage youth in countries with minimum age sales restrictions (or where sales are banned) report accessing ECs, and outline research and policy implications. Methods We undertook a focused literature search across multiple databases to identify relevant English-language studies reporting on primary research (quantitative and qualitative) and EC access sources among underage youth. Results Social sourcing was the most prevalent EC access route, relative to commercial or other avenues; however, social sourcing dynamics (i.e., who is involved in supplying product and why) remain poorly understood, especially with regard to proxy purchasing. While less prevalent, in-person retail purchasing (mainly from vape shops) persists among this age group, and appears far more common than online purchasing. Conclusions Further research examining how social supply routes operate, including interaction and power dynamics, is crucial to reducing youth vaping. Given widespread access via schools and during social activities and events, exploring how supply routes operate and evolve in these settings should be prioritized. Inadequate compliance with existing sales regulations suggest greater national and local policy enforcement, including fines and licence confiscation for selling to minors, is required at the retailer level.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T16:53:49Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4be3567ad2ec44c19644783ed2b37327
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1471-2458
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T16:53:49Z
publishDate 2023-09-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Public Health
spelling doaj.art-4be3567ad2ec44c19644783ed2b373272023-11-20T11:12:35ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-09-012311910.1186/s12889-023-16755-9How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping reviewAnna Graham-DeMello0Janet Hoek1Jonathan Drew2Department of Public Health, University of OtagoDepartment of Public Health, University of OtagoTe Whatu Ora Southern, Health New Zealand, Dunedin HospitalAbstract Background Despite measures to reduce young people’s access to electronic cigarettes (ECs), or “vapes”, many countries have recorded rising youth vaping prevalence. We summarised studies documenting how underage youth in countries with minimum age sales restrictions (or where sales are banned) report accessing ECs, and outline research and policy implications. Methods We undertook a focused literature search across multiple databases to identify relevant English-language studies reporting on primary research (quantitative and qualitative) and EC access sources among underage youth. Results Social sourcing was the most prevalent EC access route, relative to commercial or other avenues; however, social sourcing dynamics (i.e., who is involved in supplying product and why) remain poorly understood, especially with regard to proxy purchasing. While less prevalent, in-person retail purchasing (mainly from vape shops) persists among this age group, and appears far more common than online purchasing. Conclusions Further research examining how social supply routes operate, including interaction and power dynamics, is crucial to reducing youth vaping. Given widespread access via schools and during social activities and events, exploring how supply routes operate and evolve in these settings should be prioritized. Inadequate compliance with existing sales regulations suggest greater national and local policy enforcement, including fines and licence confiscation for selling to minors, is required at the retailer level.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16755-9e-cigaretteVapeYouthUnderage access
spellingShingle Anna Graham-DeMello
Janet Hoek
Jonathan Drew
How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
BMC Public Health
e-cigarette
Vape
Youth
Underage access
title How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
title_full How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
title_fullStr How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
title_short How do underage youth access e-cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws? A scoping review
title_sort how do underage youth access e cigarettes in settings with minimum age sales restriction laws a scoping review
topic e-cigarette
Vape
Youth
Underage access
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16755-9
work_keys_str_mv AT annagrahamdemello howdounderageyouthaccessecigarettesinsettingswithminimumagesalesrestrictionlawsascopingreview
AT janethoek howdounderageyouthaccessecigarettesinsettingswithminimumagesalesrestrictionlawsascopingreview
AT jonathandrew howdounderageyouthaccessecigarettesinsettingswithminimumagesalesrestrictionlawsascopingreview