The Impact of Recent Tobacco Regulations and COVID-19 Restrictions and Implications for Future E-Cigarette Retail: Perspectives from Vape and Vape-and-Smoke Shop Merchants

Zongshuan Duan, Katelyn F. Romm, Lisa Henriksen, Nina C. Schleicher, Trent O. Johnson, Theodore L. Wagener, Steven Y. Sussman, Barbara A. Schillo, Jidong Huang and Carla J. Berg
Additional contact information
Zongshuan Duan: Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Katelyn F. Romm: Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Lisa Henriksen: Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Nina C. Schleicher: Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Trent O. Johnson: Stanford Prevention Research Center, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
Theodore L. Wagener: Center for Tobacco Research, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Steven Y. Sussman: Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
Barbara A. Schillo: Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Jidong Huang: Department of Health Policy & Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
Carla J. Berg: Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: Background: Tobacco regulations and COVID-19 state orders have substantially impacted vape retail. This study assessed vape retailers’ perspectives regarding regulations and future retail activities. Methods: In March–June 2021, 60 owners or managers of vape or vape-and-smoke shops ( n = 34 vs. n = 26) in six US metropolitan areas completed an online survey assessing: (1) current and future promotional strategies and product offerings; and (2) experiences with federal minimum legal sales age (T21) policies, the federal flavored e-cigarette ban, and COVID-19-related orders. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively; qualitative responses to open-ended questions were thematically analyzed. Results: Most participants had websites (65.0%), used social media for promotion (71.7%), offered curbside pickup (51.7%), and sold CBD (e.g., 73.3% vape products, 80.0% other); many also sold other tobacco products. Knowledge varied regarding state/local policies in effect before federal policies. Participants perceived tobacco regulations and COVID-19 orders as somewhat easy to understand/implement and perceived noncompliance consequences as somewhat severe. Qualitative themes indicated concerns regarding regulations’ negative impacts (e.g., sales/customer loss, customers switching to combustibles), insufficient evidence base, challenges explaining regulations to customers, and concerns about future regulatory actions. Conclusions: Surveillance of tobacco retail, consumer behavior, and regulatory compliance is warranted as policies regarding nicotine and cannabis continue evolving.

Keywords: tobacco regulations; Tobacco 21; flavored e-cigarette ban; COVID-19 orders; vape shop; vape-and-smoke shop; retail activities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3855/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/7/3855/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:7:p:3855-:d:778397

Access Statistics for this article

IJERPH is currently edited by Ms. Jenna Liu

More articles in IJERPH from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().