Stunning Study Reveals Lack of Enforcement of Vaping Bans
Researchers find 70% of attempted orders for flavored nicotine products succeed, despite state and city bans
LOS ANGELES — To combat nicotine addiction among young people, Congress took two significant steps in 2020. The first step banned the delivery of e-cigarettes via the U.S. Postal Service, while the second required delivery services to check the recipient’s age ID. California also followed suit by banning most flavored tobacco products. However, the city of San Diego expanded this ban to prohibit the online sale of these products.
In October 2023, researchers from UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, and Stanford partnered to test the effectiveness of these measures. They paired eight adults to attempt buying flavored nicotine vaping products from 78 online retailers within and outside the city of San Diego. Each participant requested delivery via the U.S. Postal Service (if available) and also tried to purchase products by postal mail.
Study’s Troubling Findings
Idealistically, the study hoped to find that all online orders failed due to state and city bans or strict age verification measures. Alas, the findings show that more than 65% of attempted orders resulted in successful deliveries of flavored vapes, with an astonishing 70% success rate within the city of San Diego, which specifically prohibits online sales. Worse still, 93% of deliveries were made with no attempt to verify the buyer’s age.Only one delivery person tried to scan the buyer’s ID, as required by federal law.
Delivery Insights
In the study, most online retailers (80%) handled deliveries via the Postal Service, which should have carried no products due to congressional restrictions. An additional 9% used other carriers like UPS and FedEx that have policies against shipping tobacco products. The authors believe that these findings expose loopholes in the laws that need to be closed to prevent underage vaping and potential addiction.
Experts Speak
“These results demonstrate a widespread disregard for age verification, shipping, and flavored tobacco restrictions among online tobacco retailers,” said Eric Leas, an assistant professor at UCSD and director of the Tobacco E-commerce Lab. He emphasized that it is crucial to regulate the online tobacco industry for young people’s health. His lab has been examining these issues for years.
Banned Products Still Available Online
Ban or no ban, the study highlights how vulnerable the online tobacco retailing market is to potential evasion. The Vapor Technology Association and Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives have been vocal opponents to restrictions on flavored e-cigarettes and argue that vaping is safer than cigarette smoking.
The Battle Against Nicotine Addiction Continues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention caution against any tobacco product being used, especially by youth, teenagers, and young adults. The latest surveys reveal a decline in vape usage among minors, a step in the right direction.
Conclusion
The study proves how lax enforcement of current tobacco regulations allows online vaping businesses to disregard age and sales restrictions. It stresses the need for stricter enforcement measures to protect young people and prevent nicotine addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the main goals of the study?
The research team aimed to assess how effective the current laws in the United States are at prohibiting the sale of e-cigarette products to minors through online retailers.
Did the study find any inconsistencies with age verification?
Yes. The study discovered that the majority of online tobacco retailers failed to verify buyers’ ages, with an astounding 93% of deliveries made without any form of age verification.
Is there a growing threat posed by online tobacco retailing?
Yes. Experts, including Eric Leas from UCSD, recognize online tobacco retailing as a significant threat to combating underage vaping and nicotine addiction.
What are some ongoing efforts to address vaping?
A number of organizations are committed to reducing vaping addiction through education, awareness, and stricter regulations. Health institutions and advocacy groups urge greater oversight and enforcement measures against online tobacco retailers, along with education campaigns focusing on the dangers of e-cigarette use among youth and young adults.
