LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth Conducts Environmental Scan of Local Vape Stores

The LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY) conducted an environmental scan of vape shops in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, SC. LCAHY Board members (David Martin, Dillon Haraburd, Ellen Andreoletti, Geoffrey M. Lawson, Susie Maurer, Wendy Cummings, and Co-DFC Grant Coordinator Kathy Brookshire) surveyed the stores using Google Forms. During the scans, they answered questions about advertisements that promoted the sale of vapes, vaping paraphernalia, and edibles/drinks. They also recorded information on signage that included risks of substance use, signage about ID checks, and signage discouraging the sale to minors. The number of signs available in Spanish was also recorded. In addition, LCAHY members assessed how easy it would be for youth to access vapes from this establishment and on the business’s website. To view the questionnaire, click here. LCAHY Board members shared their personal experiences doing the scan at the March LCAHY Community Board Meeting. During the April Board Meeting, LCAHY Board Member, Ellen Andreoletti, shared the data collected from the 18 vape store locations.

The data collected indicates that there needs to be more signage about ID checks to purchase vapes or vaping paraphernalia, and signs indicating the minimum age required to purchase. The data showed that there was no signage posted stating the risks of vaping or edibles. The scan also showed that signage in Spanish is needed. LCAHY plans to conduct scans of vape stores annually to monitor news trends. The data and results of the scan will be reviewed by LCAHY’s Principal Investigator and developmental psychologist. The results from the scan survey are below. LCAHY plans to commend vape stores that are preventing youth access to vapes via the media. Conducting an environmental scan is an activity in LCAHY’s 12-Month Action Plan under Strategy 6: Change Physical Design under the Seven Strategies of Community Level Change.

LCAHY Business Sector CIA and LCAHY Board Member representing the parent sector conduct scans in Hilton Head and Bluffton, respectively.

Ten of the 18 stores had signage stating the minimum age for purchasing vapes, while 10 did not have this type of signage.