Exploring the Point-of-Sale Among Vape Shops Across the United States: Audits Integrating a Mystery Shopper Approach

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Carla Berg, Emory University; Dainne C Barker, Barker Bicoastal Hlth Consultants Inc; Christina Meyers, Emory University; Amber Weber, Emory University; Amy J Park, Emory University; Akilah Patterson, Emory University; Sarah Dorvil, Emory University; Robert T Fairman, Georgia State University; Jidong Huang, Georgia State University; Steve Sussman, University of Southern California; Melvin D Livingston, George Washington University; Theodore L Wagener, Ohio State University; Rashelle B Hayes, Virginia Commonwealth University; Kim Pulvers, California State University San Marcos; Betelihem Getachew, Emory University; Nina Schleicher, Stanford University; Lisa Henriksen, Stanford University
• Language: English
• Date: 2021-03-01
• Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2020.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa041
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: NICOTINE & TOBACCO RESEARCH
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 3
• Start Page: 495
• End Page: 504
• Grant/Funding Information: Dr. Pulvers is supported by funding from the NIH (SC3GM122628; PI: Pulvers; R01 CA190347; MPIs: Strong and Pierce), TRDRP (27IP-0041; PI: Pulvers; 28IP-0022S; PI: Oren), and the USDHHS (3GM1226290FK0105-01-00; PI: Fernando Sañudo).; Dr. Wagener is supported by funding from the NIH and US FDA (R01CA204891, PI: Wagener; U01DA045537, PI: Wagener; R21DA046333, MPI: Wagener and Villanti).; This publication was supported the National Cancer Institute (NCI) (R01CA215155-01A1; PI: Berg). Dr. Berg is also supported by other NCI funding (R01 CA179422-01; PI: Berg; P30 CA138292; PI: Curran) and the US Fogarty International Center/NCI (1R01TW010664-01; MPIs: Berg, Kegler).
• Keywords: Substance Abuse; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Science & Technology; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
• Research Categories: Psychology, Behavioral; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Introduction: Vape shops represent prominent, unique retailers, subject to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulation in the United States. Aims and Methods: This study assessed compliance of US vape shop retail marketing strategies with new regulations (eg, required age verification, prohibited free samples) and pre-implementation conditions for other regulations (eg, health warning labels on all nicotine products, required disclosures of e-liquid contents). Results: 95.0% of shops displayed minimum-age signage; however, mystery shoppers were asked for age verification at 35.6% upon entry and at 23.4% upon purchase. Although 85.5% of shops had some evidence of implementing FDA health warnings, 29.1% had signage indicating prohibited health claims, 16.3% offered free e-liquid samples, 27.4% had signage with cartoon imagery, and 33.3% were within two blocks of schools. All shops sold open-system devices, 64.8% sold closed-system devices, 68.2% sold their own brand of e-liquids, 42.5% sold e-liquids containing cannabidiol, 83.2% offered price promotions of some kind, and 89.9% had signage for product and price promotions. Conclusions: Results indicated that most shops complied with some implementation of FDA health warnings and with free sampling bans and minimum-age signage. Other findings indicated concerns related to underage access, health claims, promotional strategies, and cannabidiol product offerings, which call for further FDA and state regulatory/enforcement efforts.