Easy access: identification verification and shipping methods used by online vape shops.

IF 4 2区医学 Q1 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Tobacco Control Pub Date : 2025-04-01 DOI:10.1136/tc-2023-058303

Adrian Bertrand, Megan C Diaz, Elizabeth C Hair, Barbara A Schillo

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective: This project assesses how online vape shops (OVSs) verify buyer identification (ID) and the shipping methods used to send products within the USA.

Methodology: In January 2023, we conducted three online searches (eg, 'best online vape shops') from our office in Washington, District of Columbia, to identify popular OVSs. Two trained coders identified discrete features available within the site sections: 'About Us', 'Shipping Policy' and 'Frequently Asked Questions', or displayed within the site's homepage. Coders recorded OVS listed locations, shipping discounts, shipping companies used and ID verification methods. Lastly, coders indicated if the site requested ID/age verification after adding an item to the shopping cart and initiating checkout procedures.

Results: We identified 64 unique OVSs; 92.2% (n=59) offered shipping and 82.8% (n=53) shipped to US buyers; 76.6% (n=49) allowed visitors to type a birthday or choose the '21 or older' option to access the site. Of the 59 sites shipping to buyers, 76.3% (n=45) offered free shipping, 21.9% (n=14) required login to purchase products, while most sites (n=45, 76.3%) allowed visitors to reach the checkout page without ID verification. The US Postal Service is the most commonly used shipping carrier (n=23), in violation of the Preventing All Cigarette Trafficking Act.

Conclusions: Most OVSs rely on age self-certification, which underage youth can easily exploit to access these products. Findings warrant that the Food and Drug Administration, state and local policymakers explore additional actions regulating online tobacco sales to address the compliance issues our data elucidate. These include enhanced surveillance, compliance checks and stricter penalties.

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轻松获取：在线 Vape 商店使用的身份验证和运输方法。

目标：本项目评估在线电子烟商店（OVS）如何验证买家身份（ID）以及在美国境内发送产品所使用的运输方法：本项目评估在线电子烟店（OVS）如何验证买家身份（ID）以及在美国境内发送产品所使用的运输方法：2023 年 1 月，我们在哥伦比亚特区华盛顿的办公室进行了三次在线搜索（例如，"最佳在线 Vape 商店"），以确定受欢迎的 OVS。两名训练有素的编码员确定了网站部分的离散特征：关于我们"、"运输政策 "和 "常见问题"，或显示在网站主页上。编码员记录了 OVS 列出的地点、运输折扣、使用的运输公司和身份验证方法。最后，编码员指出网站是否要求在将商品添加到购物车并启动结账程序后进行身份/年龄验证：我们发现了 64 个独一无二的 OVS；92.2%（n=59）提供运费，82.8%（n=53）向美国买家发货；76.6%（n=49）允许访问者输入生日或选择 "21 岁或以上 "选项进入网站。在 59 个向买家发货的网站中，76.3%（n=45）的网站提供免费送货服务，21.9%（n=14）的网站要求登录后才能购买产品，而大多数网站（n=45，76.3%）允许访问者无需身份验证即可进入结账页面。美国邮政局是最常用的运输承运人（n=23），这违反了《防止所有卷烟贩运法》：大多数 OVS 依赖于年龄自我认证，未成年青少年很容易利用这一点获得这些产品。调查结果表明，食品药品管理局、各州和地方政策制定者应探索采取更多行动规范在线烟草销售，以解决我们的数据所阐明的合规问题。这些措施包括加强监督、合规检查和更严厉的处罚。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Tobacco Control 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

9.10

自引率

26.90%

发文量

223

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Tobacco Control is an international peer-reviewed journal covering the nature and consequences of tobacco use worldwide; tobacco''s effects on population health, the economy, the environment, and society; efforts to prevent and control the global tobacco epidemic through population-level education and policy changes; the ethical dimensions of tobacco control policies; and the activities of the tobacco industry and its allies.