Study Suggests Many Vape Retailers Are Failing To Comply With Laws To Protect Youth

A new study indicates vape retailers are not consistently complying with regulations, raising significant concerns about the protection of minors.

At a Glance

The study underlines serious lapses in regulation enforcement for online vape sales.
The research indicates minors can easily purchase vape products, bypassing federal and state restrictions.
The study suggests laws regarding illegal online sales and tobacco sales need better oversight and implementation.

Study Reveals Alarming Trends

A UCSD study, published in the Journal of American Medical Association, found alarming loopholes in vape sales regulations. People in San Diego can purchase vape products online through the U.S. Postal Service and without the required age verification, per the study. The research highlights a worrying trend that these transactions often bypass federal and state laws, which aim to protect young people from tobacco’s harmful effects.

The study scrutinized 156 online purchases involving 78 online retailers. In the study, participants ordered products from San Diego and one other city in the county. The participants also requested delivery through the USPS if it was an option. Notably, e-cigarette sites are barred from sending products through the USPS, while California bans the sale of flavored e-cigarette products.

The study revealed that a staggering 73% orders were processed and 67% delivered, with 80% of the deliveries going through USPS. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that the study showed 93% of deliveries failed to verify the buyer’s age.

Online vape retailers ignore rules meant to protect minors, new UCSD study finds https://t.co/qD8m3VAyOh

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) November 12, 2024

Legislative Efforts and Gaps

California’s Senate Bill 39, enacted in 2019, sought to strengthen verification processes and delivery requirements for online tobacco sales, aligning with broader federal laws. Despite these legal frameworks, enforcement allegedly remains insufficient, and loopholes persist. In many cases, the U.S. Postal Service and other couriers deliver these products illegally, per the research. The study indicates a need for more stringent measures and oversight to ensure compliance with established laws and regulations.

Conclusion and Future Directions

The study suggests that the existing laws regarding online tobacco sales, including vape products, are not thoroughly executed, creating a loophole that minors exploit. The online market remains the fastest-growing segment of the tobacco industry, demanding rigorous regulations to curb potential harm to the youth population.

“Online sales of e-cigarettes are the largest and fastest growing sector of the tobacco industry. We need to evaluate tobacco retail policies and ensure they cover e-commerce and monitor the market to improve implementation.” Eric Leas of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science said.