Vape shop and consumer activity during COVID-19 non-essential business closures in the USA.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Vaping and vape shops pose risk for COVID-19 and its transmission.

Objectives

We examined vape shop non-compliance with state-ordered business closures during COVID-19, changes in their marketing and experiences among consumers.

Methods

As part of a longitudinal study of vape retail in six metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs; Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, San Diego and Seattle), we conducted: (1) legal research to determine whether statewide COVID-19 orders required vape shops to close; (2) phone-based and web-based surveillance to assess vape shop activity in March-June 2020 during shelter-in-place periods; and (3) a concurrent online survey of e-cigarette users about their experiences with vape retail.

Results

Non-essential busine

SUBMITTER: Berg CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8341768 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature