A study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics has unveiled that around 94% of the time teenagers are able to buy electronic cigarettes.

As per the study, internet retailers have refused five out of 100 attempts to purchase e-cigarettes due to age. And, additional five attempts to purchase the product were refused due to parental control settings.

The study throws light on how easy it has become for children to buy electronic cigarettes on the internet. The study is akin to another study conducted by the same researchers who highlighted that it is very easy for teenagers to buy alcohol on the internet.

Erika Sward, from the American Lung Association, said children of this generation have an easy access to credit cards. In fact, the adults save credit card information on the internet to enjoy hassle free internet shopping.

Sward said that these factors are benefitting the e-cigarette industry and the tobacco industry. She thinks that the Obama administration needs to take come up with laws to protect children.

The researchers affirmed that one of the most controversial aspects of electronic cigarettes is lack of regulation.

Study’s lead researcher Rebecca Williams, of the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, was of the view, “Without strictly enforced federal regulations, online e-cigarette vendors have little motivation to decrease profits by spending the time and money it takes to properly verify customers’ age and reject underage buyers”.

The researchers conducted an experiment with 10 minors between age 14 and 17. They made an attempt to purchase electronic cigarettes online. In total, the participants made 98 attempts to buy the product and they were rejected just five times and that too because of being underage. In total, 75 purchases were successful.