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...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-09-01
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Series: | BMC Public Health |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16755-9 |
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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 |
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