An Examination of Factors Influencing Illegal Tobacco Sales to Minors

Assessment of the US Federal Retailer Violation Rate as an Estimate of the Proportion of Retailers That Illegally Sell Tobacco to Adolescents

“…As in previous studies, the most decisive factor in unlawful sales was how retailers handled requirements for proof of age. Minors were challenged to show ID in 92.6% (1094 of 1181) of compliance checks, a vast improvement from 2 decades ago when, for example, a large California study found that minors were asked for age or ID only 17% of the time.…”

“…In a 1996 study, underage cigarette sales were zero when merchants asked for ID but were 100% when they did not. In a 2002 study, age and ID questions were the most significant deterrents of illegal tobacco sales to minors. In studies in which minors are allowed to show ID when asked, sales violations are 4 to 6 times more likely than when no ID is shown even though the ID reveals that the customer is too young to be sold cigarettes.…”