E-cigarette Retail Outlets in Mexico: A Country That Bans the Sale

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the availability and marketing of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in Mexico, where their sale is banned. The study identifies and categorizes e-cigarette retail outlets through a content analysis of websites and assesses their characteristics, promotional strategies, and safety mechanisms.

Key Points:

* The study identified 695 e-cigarette retail outlets in Mexico, of which 69.2% were physical stores, 29.8% were hybrid stores, 0.6% were online stores, and 0.4% were vending machines.
* A total of 316 e-cigarette brands and 578 vape liquid brands were identified, with most stores using social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram to promote their products.
* Only 35.1% of stores checked the age of their customers, and 25.6% warned about nicotine addiction, while 24.2% specifically mentioned the ingredients of the liquids.
* The study found no significant differences in e-cigarette sales between countries with permissive and restrictive regulations.

Main Message:
The study highlights the widespread availability and marketing of e-cigarettes in Mexico, despite the ban on their sale. The high number of stores, brands, and promotional strategies indicates noncompliance with existing regulations. Therefore, the study suggests that in addition to establishing restrictive policies on the sale of e-cigarettes, their enforcement should also be monitored, especially in countries with restrictive measures. Additionally, countries should regulate internet sales and promotion of e-cigarettes with greater emphasis. The study emphasizes the need for stricter enforcement and regulation of e-cigarette sales and marketing to protect public health.

David Zepeta Hernández, Angelica Susana López Arellano, Erika Mayte del Angel Salazar, Nazaria Martínez Díaz, E-cigarette Retail Outlets in Mexico: A Country That Bans the Sale, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 4, April 2025, Pages 652–657, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae246