The Effect of Online Sales Bans on E-Cigarette Use

Ege Aksu, Charles Courtemanche, Dhaval Dave, Daniel Dench, Michael Grossman, Jooyoung Kim, Selen Ozdogan, Shubhsri Rajendra, Joseph J. Sabia and Henry Saffer ()

No 34565, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: Policymakers at the state and federal levels have argued that restricting online sales of e-cigarettes is a crucial policy tool to curb youth vaping. This study is the first to explore the effectiveness of statewide restrictions on online sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) on teen and young adult ENDS use. Using data from four national datasets (Monitoring the Future, State and Combined Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System surveys, Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health, and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey) and a generalized difference-in-differences approach, we find no evidence that such laws are effective at curbing youth ENDS use. With 95 percent confidence, we can rule out that online sales restrictions reduced prior-month ENDS use by more than 3.6 percent of the pre-treatment mean vaping rate. An exploration of mechanisms suggests that (1) while restrictions on online sales may have a small negative effect on online purchases, youths are able to substitute to other sources for ENDS products to compensate for reduced online access, and (2) online sources are a very rare source of e-cigarettes for youths. Finally, we also find no evidence that online sales restrictions reduce adult ENDS use.

JEL-codes: I12 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-12
Note: CH EH LE PE
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