Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2023 Jun 9;25(7):1369-1377. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntad046.
E-cigarette retail surveillance is needed during regulatory changes, like the U.S. increasing minimum legal sales age to 21 (T21) and flavor restrictions (2019 and 2020) and certain state/localities increasing related restrictions.
We examined regulatory compliance (eg, minimum-age signage), promotional strategies (eg, health claims), and products at 2 timepoints among vape shops across six U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs; Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego, Seattle). In summer 2018, pairs of trained auditors assessed randomly selected shops (n = ~30/MSA). In fall 2021, audits were conducted among 2018 shops (if open and allowed) and additional randomly selected shops (n = ~20/MSA). Data from 179 shops in 2018 and 119 in 2021 (43 from the 2018 sample) were compared.
There were decreases (p < .01) in the proportion of shops with (1) minimum-age signs (90.5% vs. 73.9%), (2) their own e-liquid brand (68.2% vs. 44.5%), onsite vaping (73.2% vs. 46.2%), counter seating (65.2% vs. 34.5%), and e-liquid sampling (90.0% vs. 33.6%), and (3) signs with product/price promotions (89.9% vs. 65.5%), health/cessation claims (29.1% vs. 12.6%), and cartoon imagery (27.4% vs. 11.8%). The proportions selling wet/dry vaporizers (26.4% vs. 39.5%), CBD products (23.3% vs. 71.4%), and pipes/glassware/papers (18.4% vs. 52.9%) increased. In 2021, many sold THC (12.6% e-liquids, 62.2% other products) and kratom (40.3%).
With increasing restrictions (eg, on flavors, sampling, and T21), fewer shops sold their own e-liquid brands or accommodated onsite use/sampling, but fewer also posted minimum-age signage. Notably, more offered cannabis-related products. These changes underscore the need for comprehensive surveillance to assess regulatory impact.
The past 6 years marked increasing e-cigarette sales restrictions in the United States, yet limited research has examined the implications for tobacco specialty shops selling e-cigarettes. This study found that, from 2018 to 2021, there were significant decreases in the proportion of vape shops with their own e-liquid, onsite vaping, e-liquid sampling, lounge/counter seating, and price promotions, as well as minimum-age signs. There were increases in the proportion selling cannabis-derived products and related paraphernalia. Tobacco control research and regulatory agencies must consider how tobacco specialty stores have evolved alongside legislative changes that impact them and consumers.
在美国提高最低法定销售年龄至 21 岁（T21）和限制口味（2019 年和 2020 年）以及某些州/地方增加相关限制等监管变化期间，需要对电子烟零售进行监测。
我们在六个美国大都市统计区（MSA；亚特兰大、波士顿、明尼阿波利斯、俄克拉荷马城、圣地亚哥、西雅图）的两个时间点检查了蒸汽烟商店的监管合规情况（例如，最低年龄标识）、促销策略（例如，健康声明）和产品。在 2018 年夏天，经过培训的审核员对随机选择的商店（每个 MSA 约 30 家）进行了评估。在 2021 年秋季，对 2018 年的商店（如果开放且允许）和额外的随机选择的商店（每个 MSA 约 20 家）进行了审核。比较了 2018 年 179 家商店和 2021 年 119 家商店（2018 年样本中有 43 家）的数据。
与（1）最低年龄标识（90.5% 对 73.9%）、（2）自有电子烟液品牌（68.2% 对 44.5%）、店内吸食电子烟（73.2% 对 46.2%）、柜台座位（65.2% 对 34.5%）和电子烟液抽样（90.0% 对 33.6%）、（3）带有产品/价格促销（89.9% 对 65.5%）、健康/戒烟声明（29.1% 对 12.6%）和卡通图像（27.4% 对 11.8%）的商店比例有所下降。销售湿/干蒸发器（26.4% 对 39.5%）、CBD 产品（23.3% 对 71.4%）和烟斗/玻璃器皿/纸张（18.4% 对 52.9%）的比例增加。2021 年，许多商店销售 THC（电子烟液 12.6%，其他产品 62.2%）和卡痛（40.3%）。
随着限制的增加（例如，对口味、抽样和 T21 的限制），销售自有电子烟液品牌或允许店内使用/抽样的商店减少，但张贴最低年龄标识的商店减少。值得注意的是，更多的商店提供与大麻相关的产品。这些变化突显了需要进行全面监测，以评估监管的影响。
过去 6 年，美国对电子烟销售的限制不断增加，但很少有研究调查这些变化对销售电子烟的烟草专卖店的影响。本研究发现，2018 年至 2021 年间，拥有自有电子烟液、店内吸食电子烟、电子烟液抽样、休息室/柜台座位和价格促销的蒸汽烟商店比例显著下降，同时最低年龄标识的商店比例也有所下降。销售大麻衍生产品和相关用具的比例有所上升。烟草控制研究和监管机构必须考虑到随着影响他们和消费者的立法变化，烟草专卖店是如何演变的。
