Circumvention of COVID-19-related restrictions on tobacco sales by the e-cigarette industry in South Africa and comparative analyses of heated tobacco product vs combustible cigarette volume sales during 2018–2020

Agaku, Israel; Egbe, Catherine O.; Ayo‐Yusuf, Olalekan A.

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106526

Cited by 7 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Most studies ( n = 10) were descriptive content analyses of messaging about vaping cannabis on varied digital media platforms including e-liquid vendor online sites [ 202 ], the Google Play Store [ 203 ], YouTube [ 204 , 205 ], Instagram [ 206 – 209 ], and Twitter [ 210 , 211 ]. Together, these studies showed that content was primarily promotional, with very little prevention, cessation, or health messaging.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2020, in an effort to combat COVID-19, South Africa restricted tobacco and e-cigarette product sales over a 5-month period. Studying this, Agaku et al showed that among 2661 e-liquids marketed by online vendors, about 29% were cannabidiol (CBD) liquids, primarily fruit and tobacco-flavored [ 202 ]. During the restriction period, online vendors commonly promoted CBD liquids instead of nicotine-containing e-liquid, salts, and concentrates [ 202 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cannabis Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults: a Scoping Review

et al. 2022

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Purpose of Review The purpose of this review was to describe the state-of-the-literature on research specific to cannabis vaping among youth and young adults. Recent Findings Out of 1801 records identified, a total of 202 articles met eligibility criteria for inclusion in this review. Most of this literature (46.0% of studies) was specific to the health effects of cannabis vaping, particularly EVALI (e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury). Other research areas identified in the review included the etiology (24.3%) and epidemiology (24.8%) of cannabis vaping, in addition to articles on regulation (8.4%) and marketing (5.5%) of the same. Summary Cannabis vaping is increasingly common among youth and young adults and more prevalent is settings where recreational use for adults has been legalized. The literature documents a number of negative health effects of cannabis vaping for young people, along with risk factors and reasons for the same.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabis Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults: a Scoping Review

et al. 2022

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“…Given that some websites are already making therapeutic claims about CBD products even though this is not allowed by the FDA, it seems possible that vape shops may incorrectly assume that this language exempts CBD vaping products from the policy. As a contemporary example of this, many vape shops in South Africa circumvented the temporary ban on vaping products in South Africa that was a part of emergency efforts for COVID-19 by switching their product offerings to include CBD products including vapes [ 20 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Globally, some vape shops have also directly responded to shocks on the marketplace for vaping products by adapting to carry CBD products. For instance, when vaping was temporarily banned in South Africa as a part of COVID-19 emergency response efforts, many vape shops circumvented this ban by switching their product offerings to include CBD e-liquid and vapes [ 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Availability and Promotion of Cannabidiol (CBD) Products in Online Vape Shops

Leas

Moy

McMenamin

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Vaping products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabis-derived compound used in wellness products and available in all 50 US states, were recently implicated in outbreaks of poisonings. Little is known about the commercial availability of CBD products in vape shops (i.e., stores that sell e-cigarettes). To document the availability and marketing of CBD products in online vape shops, in June 2020, we used the Google Chrome browser without cached data to collect the first two pages of search results generated by five Google queries (n = 100 search results) indicative of shopping for vaping products (e.g., “order vapes”). We then determined whether and what type of CBD products could be mail-ordered from the returned websites, and whether any explicit health claims were made about CBD. Over a third of the search results (n = 37; 37.0%) directed to vape shops that allowed visitors to also mail-order CBD. These shops sold 12 distinct categories of CBD products–some with direct analogs of tobacco or cannabis products including CBD cigarettes, edibles, flowers, pre-rolled joints, and vapes. Two vape shops made explicit health claims of the therapeutic benefits of CBD use, including in the treatment of anxiety, inflammation, pain, and stress. The abundance and placement of CBD in online vape shops suggests a growing demand and appeal for CBD products among e-cigarette users. Additional surveillance on the epidemiology of CBD use and its co-use with tobacco is warranted.

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“…A recent study by Agaku et al showed targeted and persistent efforts by e-cigarette manufacturers in South Africa to continue marketing e-cigarettes over the internet even when the South African government imposed a ban on the sale of tobacco, electronic cigarettes, and related products during a 5-month period early in the COVID-19 pandemic. 13 Another study showed strategic placement of e-cigarette vape shops as a form of promotion and advertisement in South Africa: Of the at least 240 vape shops identified in South Africa during 2020, 39% were within a 10 km radius of a university or college campus, and 65.3% were within a 20 km radius. 14 During 2018, an estimated 1.09 million South Africans aged 16+ years reported using e-cigarettes although most users reported nondaily use.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

E-cigarette advertising exposure among South African adults in 2017: findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey

2021

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ObjectivesIn South Africa, the Control of Tobacco and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill seeks to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco products, including their advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Population data on e-cigarette advertising in South Africa are needed to inform public health programs, practice and policy. We examined self-reported e-cigarette advertising exposure during 2017.DesignCross-sectional.SettingHousehold-based survey.Participants3063 individuals who participated in the 2017 South African Social Attitudes survey, a nationally representative, in-person survey of the non-institutionalised civilian adult population aged ≥16 yearsExposure‘In the past 12 months, have you seen advertisements or promotions for e-cigarettes (including e-shisha, e-pipe) on any of the following media: newspapers/magazines, billboards, in the malls or any other source?’Main outcomesBeliefs and attitudes regarding e-cigarettes.FindingsParticipants’ mean age was 37.7 years. Overall, 20.1% reported exposure to e-cigarette advertisements. By age, exposure was most prevalent among those aged 16–19 years (24.6%). Top sources of exposure among those exposed were stores, 40.7%; malls, 30.9%; and television, 32.5%. Of those aware of e-cigarettes, 61.2% believed ‘e-cigarette advertisements and promotion may make adolescents think of smoking traditional cigarettes’; 62.7% believed that ‘e-cigarette advertisements and promotions may make ex-smokers think of starting smoking cigarettes again’; and 59.5% supported the statement that ‘e-cigarette smoking should be banned indoors just as traditional cigarette smoking’. Notably, teens aged 16–19 reported the lowest prevalence (49.0%) of those believing that ‘e-cigarette advertisements and promotion may make adolescents think of smoking traditional cigarettes’, whereas this percentage was highest among those aged 55–64 years (73.2%).ConclusionComprehensive regulatory efforts are needed to address e-cigarette advertising, marketing and sponsorship in order to protect public health. The urgent enactment of the new tobacco control legislation, The Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill, can help reduce youth exposure to e-cigarette advertising in South Africa.

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Circumvention of COVID-19-related restrictions on tobacco sales by the e-cigarette industry in South Africa and comparative analyses of heated tobacco product vs combustible cigarette volume sales during 2018–2020

Cited by 7 publications

References 19 publications

Cannabis Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults: a Scoping Review

Cannabis Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults: a Scoping Review

Availability and Promotion of Cannabidiol (CBD) Products in Online Vape Shops

E-cigarette advertising exposure among South African adults in 2017: findings from a nationally representative cross-sectional survey

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