Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban
Introduction Recent reports of lung injury associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products precipitated by increasing vaping prevalence and interest in flavors among adolescents has led to policies that restrict the sale, distribution, and accessibility of ENDS products. This stu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
European Publishing
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Characterizing-and-assessing-compliance-of-online-vendors-to-nthe-state-of-Massachusetts,131199,0,2.html |
| _version_ | 1811331613977477120 |
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| author | Matthew C. Nali Vidya Purushothaman Qing Xu Raphael E. Cuomo Timothy K. Mackey |
| author_facet | Matthew C. Nali Vidya Purushothaman Qing Xu Raphael E. Cuomo Timothy K. Mackey |
| author_sort | Matthew C. Nali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction
Recent reports of lung injury associated with Electronic Nicotine
Delivery System (ENDS) products precipitated by increasing vaping
prevalence and interest in flavors among adolescents has led to policies
that restrict the sale, distribution, and accessibility of ENDS products. This
study assessed compliance of online ENDS vendors to the Massachusetts
temporary sales ban.
Methods
The study involved structured web surveillance for online ENDS
vendors using keyword searches on Google search engine (October to
November 2019.) Once vendors were identified, we conducted simulated
online purchases, defined as placing an order for an ENDS product by
putting it in the website shopping cart without finalizing payment. Simulated
purchases and content analysis of websites was conducted to determine
compliance characteristics. Fisher’s exact test was used to identify associations
between compliance and website characteristics such as location and age
verification requirements.
Results
Simulated online purchases from 50 identified ENDS vendors yielded
72% (n=36) stores that were non-compliant and allowed placement of
ENDS product orders, without restrictions, to a Massachusetts address. The
remaining 14 websites had processes in place to prevent orders from buyers
located in Massachusetts. Other characteristics of interest, including use
of age verification, location data, and web registrar/registrant data were
collected and reported.
Conclusions
The September 2019 Massachusetts executive order was a
comprehensive ban on selling ENDS products both online and offline.
However, our study found that close to three-fourths of the vendors
appeared to be non-compliant, indicating that implementation and
enforcement are ongoing challenges for future tobacco control efforts on
the internet. Policymaking needs to be specifically tailored to address the
unique challenges of online environments, particularly in the context of
identifying non-compliant sites, ensuring age verification, and addressing
non-US sellers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:23:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bae520069d03494299ced88e9340c781 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1617-9625 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T16:23:20Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | European Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Tobacco Induced Diseases |
| spelling | doaj.art-bae520069d03494299ced88e9340c7812022-12-22T02:39:49ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252021-01-0119January1910.18332/tid/131199131199Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales banMatthew C. Nali0Vidya Purushothaman1Qing Xu2Raphael E. Cuomo3Timothy K. Mackey4Global Health Policy Institute, San Diego, United StatesDepartment of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, United StatesGlobal Health Policy Institute, San Diego, United StatesGlobal Health Policy Institute, San Diego, United StatesGlobal Health Policy Institute, San Diego, United StatesIntroduction Recent reports of lung injury associated with Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products precipitated by increasing vaping prevalence and interest in flavors among adolescents has led to policies that restrict the sale, distribution, and accessibility of ENDS products. This study assessed compliance of online ENDS vendors to the Massachusetts temporary sales ban. Methods The study involved structured web surveillance for online ENDS vendors using keyword searches on Google search engine (October to November 2019.) Once vendors were identified, we conducted simulated online purchases, defined as placing an order for an ENDS product by putting it in the website shopping cart without finalizing payment. Simulated purchases and content analysis of websites was conducted to determine compliance characteristics. Fisher’s exact test was used to identify associations between compliance and website characteristics such as location and age verification requirements. Results Simulated online purchases from 50 identified ENDS vendors yielded 72% (n=36) stores that were non-compliant and allowed placement of ENDS product orders, without restrictions, to a Massachusetts address. The remaining 14 websites had processes in place to prevent orders from buyers located in Massachusetts. Other characteristics of interest, including use of age verification, location data, and web registrar/registrant data were collected and reported. Conclusions The September 2019 Massachusetts executive order was a comprehensive ban on selling ENDS products both online and offline. However, our study found that close to three-fourths of the vendors appeared to be non-compliant, indicating that implementation and enforcement are ongoing challenges for future tobacco control efforts on the internet. Policymaking needs to be specifically tailored to address the unique challenges of online environments, particularly in the context of identifying non-compliant sites, ensuring age verification, and addressing non-US sellers.http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Characterizing-and-assessing-compliance-of-online-vendors-to-nthe-state-of-Massachusetts,131199,0,2.htmlelectronic nicotine delivery systemvapingonline vaping shopsmassachusetts banelectronic cigarette |
| spellingShingle | Matthew C. Nali Vidya Purushothaman Qing Xu Raphael E. Cuomo Timothy K. Mackey Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban Tobacco Induced Diseases electronic nicotine delivery system vaping online vaping shops massachusetts ban electronic cigarette |
| title | Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to
the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban |
| title_full | Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to
the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban |
| title_fullStr | Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to
the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to
the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban |
| title_short | Characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to
the state of Massachusetts ENDS product sales ban |
| title_sort | characterizing and assessing compliance of online vendors to the state of massachusetts ends product sales ban |
| topic | electronic nicotine delivery system vaping online vaping shops massachusetts ban electronic cigarette |
| url | http://www.tobaccoinduceddiseases.org/Characterizing-and-assessing-compliance-of-online-vendors-to-nthe-state-of-Massachusetts,131199,0,2.html |
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