title: Differences in the design and sale of e-cigarettes by cigarette manufacturers and non-cigarette manufacturers in the USA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Three categories of e-cigarette brands have emerged within the US market: e-cigarette brands developed by cigarette manufacturers, brands acquired by cigarette manufacturers and brands with no cigarette manufacturer affiliation. In the absence of federal regulatory oversight of e-cigarettes, we assessed differences in e-cigarette products and sales practices across these categories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Brand websites for top-selling e-cigarette brands from each of these categories were examined in October of 2015 to compare website access restrictions, online sales practices and products sold, including e-cigarette model type (eg, 'cigalike' vs advanced systems) and options available (eg, flavoured, nicotine free).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Website access to brands developed by cigarette manufacturers was restricted to users aged 21 years or older, and one website required user registration. In addition, these brands were exclusively reusable/rechargeable 'cigalikes.' Limited flavour options were available for these products, and nicotine-free options were not sold. In contrast, brands acquired by cigarette manufacturers and brands with no cigarette manufacturer affiliation generally required website visitors to be 18, offered a nicotine-free option, and most offered disposable products and an array of flavoured products (eg, fruit/candy flavours).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This exploratory study finds differences in e-cigarette products and sales practices across these three e-cigarette brand categories, with brands developed by cigarette manufacturers adopting a particularly distinctive product and sales strategy. Anticipated regulation of e-cigarettes in the USA may be influencing these product and sales decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Seidenberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Kurt M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ribisl
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D000067088:Direct-to-Consumer Advertising / Q000191:economics; D004339:Drug Compounding; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000191:economics*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000191:economics; D066192:Manufacturing Industry / Q000191:economics*; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D000072137:Vaping / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005421:Flavoring Agents; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D009538:Nicotine
keywords: Electronic nicotine delivery devices; Surveillance and monitoring; Tobacco industry