Evaluation of an enforcement program to reduce tobacco sales to minors.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated an active enforcement program to increase retailers' compliance with the law prohibiting tobacco sales to minors. METHODS: Tobacco sales to minors were monitored in 319 outlets in 6 pairs of communities in Erie County, New York. One community in each pair was randomly assigned to an enforcement intervention. RESULTS: Retailers' compliance with the law increased from 35% in 1994 to 73% in 1995. However, the change in compliance rates was roughly the same for stores in the enforcement and nonenforcement communities. CONCLUSIONS: Active compliance checking of retail outlets as a strategy to reduce illegal tobacco sales to minors may only be necessary insofar as it contributes to an increase in retailers' perception that the threat of enforcement is real.

The effects of community policies to reduce youth access to tobacco.

“…Prevalence of smoking among students was based on a smoking index constructed by combining answers to questions about lifetime smoking, smoking in the previous 7 days, and smoking in the previous 24 hours. '7 This index was used to classify students as never, monthly, weekly, or daily smokers.…”

YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO: Policies and Politics

“…Since that review at least 21 studies directly measuring the ability of minors to purchase tobacco have been published, are in press, or are under review. In general, these studies found that girls have a higher success rate than boys; purchase success is associated with age of buyer; purchase rates are highest in gas stations and convenience stores; purchase rates are higher from vending machines than from over-thecounter sources; minors are more likely to be able to purchase when tobacco is presented in self-service displays compared to behind a counter; and clerks who ask for age identification are less likely than those who don't ask to sell to minors (7,11,18,20,22,24,25,29,33,35,37,45,51,56,65,75,82,100,106,129). One study that systematically varied ethnicity of buyer along with age and gender found that black underage buyers were sold cigarettes more often than were Latinos or whites (129).…”

Cigarette Sources For Teens By Grade: Implications For Prevention And Intervention

“…Unfortunately, enforcement efforts have been variable because of limited community resources and commitment. 11 A 1995 survey by the Department of Health and Human Services found that 56% of states reported no statewide enforcement activity, and another 24% reported that their main enforcement activity consists of vendor compliance checks only. 12 More recently, The Master Settlement Agreement between the states and the tobacco industry has since allowed states to develop tobacco use prevention and reduction programs.…”