Perceptions of E-cigarettes and Flavor Restrictions among Tobacco Retailers in Los Angeles.

Objectives: In this study, we examined tobacco retailers' perceptions of e-cigarettes and associations with in-store availability of e-cigarettes. Methods: Retailers (N = 700) in multiple, racial/ethnic neighborhoods (black/African-American, N = 200); Hispanic/Latino, N = 200; white American, N = 200; Korean American, N = 100) in Los Angeles County participated in on-site interviews and store observations. Results: Controlling for individual and racial/ethnic neighborhood factors, retailers in majority-white neighborhoods had significantly higher odds of selling e-cigarettes and flavored e-cigarettes than retailers located in Hispanic/Latino (p < .001, OR = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.08-0.25; p < .001, OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.11-0.33) and Korean American (p < .05, OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.12-0.37; p < .05, OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.12-0.39) neighborhoods. Perceptions of e-cigarettes as being completely safe/safer than cigarettes were significantly associated with availability of flavored e-cigarettes (p < .05, OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.04-3.97); and opposition to flavored e-cigarette restrictions was marginally significantly associated with availability of flavored e-cigarettes (p < .10, OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 0.96-2.51). Adjusting for store type, perceptions of e-cigarettes as being completely safe/safer than cigarettes were marginally significantly associated with availability of flavored e-cigarettes (p < .10, OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 0.85-3.73). Conclusions: Targeted efforts are warranted for educating retailers and employees in these neighborhoods on the appeal and nicotine dependence potential of e-cigarette use for youth.