The effect of online sales bans on e-cigarette use

Policymakers at both the state and federal levels have promoted restrictions on online sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) as an important tool for reducing youth vaping. This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of statewide online ENDS sales restrictions and their effects on youth and young adult tobacco-related behaviors. Using data from four nationally representative datasets-the Monitoring the Future survey, the State and Combined Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System surveys, the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey-and a generalized difference-in-differences framework, we examine the effects of these policies on product acquisition, ENDS use, and related tobacco outcomes. We find that online sales restrictions substantially reduce online purchases of ENDS products, indicating that the policies affect the targeted channel of access. Some evidence suggests substitution to social sources but also a decrease in obtaining ENDS products from "other" sources such as the black market. We find no evidence that these laws reduce overall youth ENDS use, frequent use, initiation, or cigarette smoking. These null results are consistent with online purchasing accounting for a small share of youth ENDS acquisition even prior to policy adoption. Taken together, the results suggest that restricting online sales can successfully limit a specific access channel without producing large changes in overall patterns of ENDS use.