Differences in the design and sale of e-cigarettes by cigarette manufacturers and non-cigarette manufacturers in the USA.
Tob Control
; 25(e1): e3-5, 2016 Apr.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26546151
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Three categories of e-cigarette brands have emerged within the US market e-cigarette brands developed by cigarette manufacturers, brands acquired by cigarette manufacturers and brands with no cigarette manufacturer affiliation. In the absence of federal regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes, we assessed differences in e-cigarette products and sales practices across these categories.METHODS:
Brand websites for top-selling e-cigarette brands from each of these categories were examined in October of 2015 to compare website access restrictions, online sales practices and products sold, including e-cigarette model type (eg, 'cigalike' vs advanced systems) and options available (eg, flavoured, nicotine free).RESULTS:
Website access to brands developed by cigarette manufacturers was restricted to users aged 21â years or older, and one website required user registration. In addition, these brands were exclusively reusable/rechargeable 'cigalikes.' Limited flavour options were available for these products, and nicotine-free options were not sold. In contrast, brands acquired by cigarette manufacturers and brands with no cigarette manufacturer affiliation generally required website visitors to be 18, offered a nicotine-free option, and most offered disposable products and an array of flavoured products (eg, fruit/candy flavours).CONCLUSIONS:
This exploratory study finds differences in e-cigarette products and sales practices across these three e-cigarette brand categories, with brands developed by cigarette manufacturers adopting a particularly distinctive product and sales strategy. Anticipated regulation of e-cigarettes in the USA may be influencing these product and sales decisions.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Tobacco Use Disorder
/
Smoking Cessation
/
Commerce
/
Manufacturing Industry
/
Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
/
Vaping
/
Smoking Prevention
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Tob Control
Journal subject:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Year:
2016
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States