American Journal of Public Health, Vol 90, Issue 5 790-792, Copyright © 2000 by American Public Health Association

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Cigars, youth, and the Internet link

RE Malone and LA Bero
Institute for Health Policy Studies, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco 94143, USA. rmalone@itsa.ucsf.edu

OBJECTIVES: 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.

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