| Summary: | Introduction
This study aimed to assess the availability of retailer storefronts that
continued to sell electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/
ENNDS) in India, and characterise such retailers following the promulgation of
2019 Indian Ordinance and Act (Ordinance/Act) that prohibit ENDS/ENNDS
nationwide.
Methods
Discreet observations were conducted of retailer storefronts across
different socioeconomic zones in nine major cities of India (Bengaluru,
Chandigarh, Dehradun, Delhi, Indore, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Raipur, and Ranchi)
from 28 November 2019 to 22 January 2020 to identify the availability of ENDS/
ENNDS (i.e. electronic cigarettes, e-cigarette liquid, e-cigarette accessories,
heated tobacco products (HTPs), and HTPs accessories). We report the number
and proportion (%) of retailers that sold ENDS/ENNDS. Other characteristics
of the retailers are also described, including indirect evaluation of the retailer’s
awareness of the Ordinance/Act.
Results
Of the 199 retailer storefronts visited, 37 (18.6%) sold ENDS/ENNDS
and, therefore, did not comply with the Ordinance/Act. The highest availability
of non-compliant retailers was in Kolkata (n=26; 83.9%). The majority of the
non-compliant retailers were tobacco retailers (n=35; 94.6%), sold e-cigarettes
(n=22; 59.5%), and e-cigarette accessories (n=24; 64.9%). Although many of the
non-compliant retailers displayed their ENDS/ENNDS products (n=33; 89.2%)
and did not feature health warnings related to ENDS/ENNDS (n=32; 86.5%) in
the stores, nearly 90% (n=33) were aware of the Ordinance/Act.
Conclusions
Despite a nationwide ban, ENDS/ENNDS are still available in major
cities in India, and concentrated in a particular city. Indian authorities should focus
on law enforcement to ensure that the prohibition is effectively implemented.
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