In fact, 93% of deliveries did not require age verification, with only one instance of ID scanning during the entire study, underscoring widespread noncompliance among online retailers.

A recent study conducted by researchers from UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, and Stanford assessed the effectiveness of regulations aimed at preventing online sales of flavored vaping products to minors.

The study revealed that online e-cigarette retailers frequently fail to comply with laws designed to prevent sales to minors, particularly regarding age verification and flavor restrictions.

These findings highlight significant violations of the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act, which prohibits the use of the U.S. Postal Service for shipping vaping products and mandates age verification upon delivery.

Out of 156 attempted purchases, 73% were processed successfully, and 67% of those orders were delivered.

The study found that over two-thirds of buyers successfully received flavored vapes, including nearly 70% of those ordering from San Diego, where such sales are banned.

Notably, 80% of successful deliveries were made by the Postal Service, which is prohibited from delivering these products, while 9% were handled by UPS and FedEx, both of which also restrict tobacco deliveries.

California implemented a ban on most flavored tobacco products in 2020, with local jurisdictions like San Diego enacting additional laws to close online sales loopholes.

Despite the study's findings, organizations like the Vapor Technology Association and Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association did not respond, even though they oppose bans on flavored e-cigarettes.

Eric Leas, the study's lead researcher, emphasized the rapid growth of online e-cigarette sales and the urgent need for better oversight compared to physical retail stores.

The research suggests establishing a monitoring system for online compliance that local health departments can adopt to enhance enforcement of laws aimed at reducing tobacco sales to minors.

The study was published on November 11, 2024, in JAMA and involved 16 participants attempting to purchase flavored vape products online for delivery in San Diego County.