LAUSR

Reducing access to tobacco via robust age of sale enforcement is an important component of comprehensive tobacco control, yet underage sales violations occur among tobacco retailers.1 2 Vape shops specialise in sales of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), e-liquids and devices. Some vape shops sell combustible tobacco (‘vape-and-smoke shops’) whereas others sell only non-combustible vaping-related products and no other type of tobacco product such as snuff (‘vape-only shops’). Some claim that vape-only shops take a more public health orientation, emphasising combustible tobacco cessation among adults, harm reduction goals and would not sell to minors.3 4 However, if shops are vape-only primarily to project a positive public image and focus on novel products, a similar frequency of violations of sales to minors laws might be observed across shop type. If so, consistent regulations and enforcement would be needed across shop type. Retail sales of e-products to minors that differentiates vape-only from vape-and-smoke shops has not been researched, but one study found that more last-30-day e-cigarette-using youth obtained their product from ‘vape shop or other store that only sells e-cigarettes’ (16.5%) compared with other retail locations such as ‘gas station/convenience store’ (9.8%).5 FDA conducts inspections of tobacco product retailers, making use of undercover minor and inspector operations, and reports these results …