Where Do E-cigarette Users Buy Their E-cigarette Products? Results From a Nationally Representative Sample of Adult E-cigarette Users in the United States

Introduction: This study examined how e-cigarette purchasing locations are associated with tobacco use pattern and socio-demographics of e-cigarette users in the United States. Methods: Based on a nationally representative sample of adult e-cigarette users, we assessed their purchasing locations (internet, vape shops, tobacconists, brick-and-mortar retailers, temporary sales, somewhere else including foreign country) and associations with individual demographics, frequencies of e-cigarette and cigarette use, e-cigarette product type of choice, state-level cigarette, and e-cigarette taxes. Results: In 2023, the most popular purchasing locations reported by adult e-cigarette users were: vape shops (65.5%), general purpose brick-and-mortar stores (43.4%), and internet (18.6%). Dual use of e-cigarettes and cigarettes was associated with higher odds (odds ratio = 5.3-5.5, p < .05) of buying from tobacconists. Older (odds ratio = 3.0-5.2, p < .01) and Hispanic (odds ratio = 2.85, p < .01) adults were more likely to make online purchases. Compared with exclusive disposable users, exclusive tank system users were more likely to buy online (odds ratio = 6.22, p < .001) or from vape shops (odds ratio = 2.61, p < .01), and exclusive rechargeable (pod/cartridge) users were less likely to buy from vape shops (odds ratio = 0.29, p < .001). One additional dollar tax per 1 mg of e-liquid volume was associated with higher odds of buying from somewhere else or foreign countries (odds ratio = 1.88, p < .01). Conclusions: E-cigarette use frequency, dual use status of e-cigarettes and cigarettes, age, race/ethnicity, and e-cigarette product type of choice are related to U.S. adults' e-cigarette purchasing locations.