Internet Sales of Tobacco: Heading Off the New E-pidemic

Abstract

Tobacco vendors are a growing presence on the internet. We describe the business appeal of the internet to tobacco retailers, including interviews with industry insiders that reveal the marketing goals and strategies of tobacco companies and highlight the potential future risks to tobacco control efforts. In countering these tactics, tobacco control advocates should not limit themselves to legal and regulatory remedies, but should also use the power of the internet to their own advantage. We suggest methods to combat the growing number of sites devoted to tobacco sales. These strategies could be used to limit both consumer access to, and sales effectiveness of, these sites.