Vaping Teenagers And Marketing of it.
Teenage smoking rates are their lowest in 25 years — proof that when teenagers are provided with fact-based information about risks, they will make healthy decisions. Unfortunately, teenagers today are falling for the same marketing tactics that worked on earlier generations.
When discussing vaping with teenagers, they often believe that “it’s just water vapor and flavors” or that there is “no nicotine.” When the perception of risk is low, use goes up. So teenagers who would never pick up a cigarette are using vaporizers, and vaping companies are acquiring young, lifelong customers.
When having conversations with teenagers about the health risks of vaping and nicotine, we can remind them that history is repeating itself: The tactics, marketing and deception used in the past are being used again. Teenagers are familiar with that lesson.
There has been a surge in the number of vape shops in the USA. Research on the marketing practices of e-cigarette manufacturers is scarce and even less known are the practices of vape shop retailers. Past research on tobacco marketing has shown differences in the amount and content of marketing material, based on a community’s demographic profile. This study examined marketing strategies in vape shops and explored differences among vape shops located in communities that differ by ethnic composition.
Sixty-one percent of vape shops had advertisements (print ads and posters) for e-cigarettes and 84% offered discounts. Vape shops in Hispanic communities were more likely to have ethnic specific marketing material compared to shops in other communities. All the shops provided customers with free samples, however those in Korean and non-Hispanic White communities had a significantly higher prevalence of customer accessible free samples.
Teenage smoking rates are their lowest in 25 years — proof that when teenagers are provided with fact-based information about risks, they will make healthy decisions. Unfortunately, teenagers today are falling for the same marketing tactics that worked on earlier generations.
When discussing vaping with teenagers, they often believe that “it’s just water vapor and flavors” or that there is “no nicotine.” When the perception of risk is low, use goes up. So teenagers who would never pick up a cigarette are using vaporizers, and vaping companies are acquiring young, lifelong customers.
When having conversations with teenagers about the health risks of vaping and nicotine, we can remind them that history is repeating itself: The tactics, marketing and deception used in the past are being used again. Teenagers are familiar with that lesson.
There has been a surge in the number of vape shops in the USA. Research on the marketing practices of e-cigarette manufacturers is scarce and even less known are the practices of vape shop retailers. Past research on tobacco marketing has shown differences in the amount and content of marketing material, based on a community’s demographic profile. This study examined marketing strategies in vape shops and explored differences among vape shops located in communities that differ by ethnic composition.
Sixty-one percent of vape shops had advertisements (print ads and posters) for e-cigarettes and 84% offered discounts. Vape shops in Hispanic communities were more likely to have ethnic specific marketing material compared to shops in other communities. All the shops provided customers with free samples, however those in Korean and non-Hispanic White communities had a significantly higher prevalence of customer accessible free samples.
