Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2018 Jul 9;20(8):1020-1024. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntx207.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are widely available and come in a variety of forms, including disposable cigalikes and refillable tank systems. However, little is known about their placement at the point-of-sale. We explored the placement of various ENDS types among tobacco retailers.
Systematic assessments at the point-of-sale were completed by trained data collectors in 90 tobacco retailers, including grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies in North Carolina, United States. Availability and placement of various ENDS types including cigalikes, e-hookahs, tank systems, and e-liquids was recorded.
Almost all retailers (97.8%) sold cigalikes; 41.4% sold devices labeled as e-hookahs; 54.4% sold tank systems; and 56.2% sold e-liquids. Fewer than half of stores placed ENDS exclusively behind the counter; significant differences in ENDS placement were found by store type. Grocery stores carried cigalikes, tank systems, and e-liquids and placed them exclusively behind the counter. Pharmacies only sold cigalikes; most placed them exclusively behind the counter (91.7%) with cessation aids and other tobacco products. Convenience stores carried all ENDS types and placed them with other tobacco products (55.1%) and candy (17.4%). Only about one-third of convenience stores placed ENDS exclusively behind the counter.
This exploratory study shows ENDS availability and placement at the point-of-sale varies by retailer type. Pharmacies placed cigalikes with cessation aids behind the counter suggesting their ability to aid in smoking cessation. Most convenience stores placed ENDS in self-service locations, making them easily accessible to youth. Findings highlight the need for ENDS regulation at the point-of-sale.
Our study highlights the need for regulatory efforts aimed at ENDS placement at the point-of-sale. While pharmacies and grocery stores offered fewer ENDS types and typically placed them in clerk-assisted locations, all ENDS types were found at convenience stores, some of which were placed in youth-friendly locations. Regulatory efforts to control ENDS placement and limit youth exposure should be examined, such as requiring products be placed in clerk-assisted locations and banning ENDS placement next to candy.
电子烟在市场上广泛销售，有多种形式，包括一次性电子烟和可充电烟弹。然而，我们对其销售点的摆放位置知之甚少。本研究旨在探索不同类型电子烟在烟草零售商处的摆放位置。
在美国北卡罗来纳州的 90 家烟草零售商（包括杂货店、便利店和药店）中，由经过培训的数据收集员进行了销售点的系统评估。记录了各种电子烟类型（包括一次性电子烟、电子水烟、烟弹系统和电子烟液）的供应情况和摆放位置。
几乎所有的零售商（97.8%）都销售一次性电子烟；41.4%销售标称为电子水烟的设备；54.4%销售烟弹系统；56.2%销售电子烟液。不到一半的商店将电子烟专门放在柜台后面；不同类型的商店在电子烟的摆放位置上存在显著差异。杂货店销售一次性电子烟、烟弹系统和电子烟液，并将其专门放在柜台后面。药店只销售一次性电子烟，大多数药店（91.7%）将其与戒烟辅助工具和其他烟草产品一起放在柜台后面。便利店销售所有类型的电子烟，并将其与其他烟草产品（55.1%）和糖果（17.4%）放在一起。只有大约三分之一的便利店将电子烟专门放在柜台后面。
这项探索性研究表明，电子烟的供应和销售点的摆放位置因零售商类型而异。药店将一次性电子烟与戒烟辅助工具一起放在柜台后面，这表明它们有助于戒烟。大多数便利店将电子烟放在自助服务的位置，这使得它们很容易被年轻人接触到。这些发现突出了在销售点对电子烟进行监管的必要性。
本研究强调了在销售点对电子烟进行监管的必要性。虽然药店和杂货店提供的电子烟类型较少，通常将其放在店员协助的位置，但所有类型的电子烟都可以在便利店找到，其中一些放在了对年轻人友好的位置。应该考虑采取监管措施来控制电子烟的摆放位置，限制年轻人接触电子烟，例如要求产品放在店员协助的位置，并禁止将电子烟放在糖果旁边。
