Cigarette sales to minors via the internet: how the story has changed in the wake of federal regulation

Abstract

Objective To assess how easily minors can purchase cigarettes online and online cigarette vendors’ compliance with federal age/ID verification and shipping regulations, North Carolina’s 2013 tobacco age verification law, and federal prohibitions on the sale of non-menthol flavoured cigarettes or those labelled or advertised as light’. Methods In early 2014, 10 minors aged 14–17 attempted to purchase cigarettes by credit card and electronic check from 68 popular internet vendors. Results Minors received cigarettes from 32.4% of purchase attempts, all delivered by the US Postal Service (USPS) from overseas sellers. None failed due to age/ID verification. All failures were due to payment processing problems. USPS left 63.6% of delivered orders at the door with the remainder handed to minors with no age verification. 70.6% of vendors advertised light cigarettes and 60.3% flavoured, with 23.5% and 11.8%, respectively, delivered to the teens. Study credit cards were exposed to an estimated $7000 of fraudulent charges. Conclusions Despite years of regulations restricting internet cigarette sales, poor vendor compliance and lack of shipper and federal enforcement leaves minors still able to obtain cigarettes (including light’ and flavoured) online. The internet cigarette marketplace has shifted overseas, exposing buyers to widespread credit card fraud. Federal agencies should rigorously enforce existing internet cigarette sales laws to prevent illegal shipments from reaching US consumers, shut down non-compliant and fraudulent websites, and stop the theft and fraudulent use of credit card information provided online. Future studies should assess whether these agencies begin adequately enforcing the existing laws.

Electronic cigarette use in youths: a position statement of the Forum of International Respiratory Societies

“…Minors are easily able to purchase electronic cigarettes from the internet because of absent or weak age verification measures used by vendors. A recent study showed that minors successfully received deliveries of electronic cigarettes from 77% of purchase attempts and delivery companies never attempted to verify their age at delivery [101].…”

Carcinógenos ambientales asociados a cáncer infantil

“…El benceno se asocia a daños en la línea mieloide y linfoide de las células hematopoyéticas, aumentando el riesgo de desarrollar leucemia linfoide o mieloide agudas (60,61) . Recientes estudios asocian los casos de leucemia linfoblástica aguda en menores de 15 años con la exposición al tabaco, derivada de la compra ilegal de este producto, pese a las disposiciones legales que prohíben su venta a menores de 18 años (62)(63)(64) .…”

Policy coherence, integration, and proportionality in tobacco control: Should tobacco sales be limited to government outlets?

“…Internet vendors continue to promote tax free cigarette sales and the Act is ineffectively enforced. 43 A high level of credit card fraud associated with online tobacco purchase attempts may limit such sales. 43 Health harms of tobacco are aggravated by simultaneous alcohol use.…”

“…43 A high level of credit card fraud associated with online tobacco purchase attempts may limit such sales. 43 Health harms of tobacco are aggravated by simultaneous alcohol use. 44 If both substances are sold at the same locations, dual use could increase.…”