Cigars, youth, and the Internet link.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the accessibility and appeal to youth of cigar marketing sites on the Internet.


METHODS
Sites marketing cigars (n = 141) were examined for age restrictions, prices, health warnings, and other elements.


RESULTS
Although it is illegal for minors to purchase tobacco, only 36 sites (25.5%) prohibited purchases by minors. Sites offered low prices, and 32% accepted money orders, cashier's checks, or cash-on-delivery (COD) orders. Almost 30% of the sites included elements with potential youth appeal; only 3.5% displayed health warnings.


CONCLUSIONS
The unregulated promotion of cigars on the Internet has the potential to attract youth, and there are few barriers to Internet tobacco purchases by minors.
Malone
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Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143, USA. rmalone@itsa.ucsf.edu
Bero
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D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000329:Advertising / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000379:methods*; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005610:Freedom; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D012945:Social Values; D014481:United States