Strategies for Reducing Youth Access to Tobacco: a framework for understanding empirical findings on youth access policies

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to review empirical studies of youth access policies, to understand components of successful and unsuccessful interventions to help to formulate future policies, and to provide a framework for additional research. Studies of the effects of US youth access policies on retail compliance and youth smoking rates were collected using Internet searches, including Medline and other computerized databases, references identi®ed from bibliographies of pertinent articles and books, and suggestions from tobacco control experts. Results suggested that a successful policy that reduces retail sales is likely to involve a multicomponent approach that includes strong enforcement and penalties, as well as community education and mobilization. The effects of youth access policies on youth smoking rates, however, are mixed and inconclusive. In addition to commercial sales, attention should also be paid to non-retail sources of tobacco, such as parents, older siblings and peers, and black markets. Additional research is warranted to understand better the elements of successful retail policies, their impact on youth smoking rates, how non-retail availability may limit the effectiveness of reduced retail access, and strategies to reduce non-retail access.

Tobacco outlet density, retailer cigarette sales without ID checks and enforcement of underage tobacco laws: associations with youths’ cigarette smoking and beliefs

“…Many studies have found that enforcement of underage sales laws through compliance checks is associated with decreased rates of tobacco sales to youths (18, 19). Similarly, programs that reinforce retailers for not selling tobacco products to minors have been shown to be effective in increasing ID checking rates (20).…”

Vital Signs: Exposure to Electronic Cigarette Advertising Among Middle School and High School Students — United States, 2014

“…For example, a 2002 review of youth access policies found that although vending machines and shoplifting represented approximately 5 percent or less of youth supply, the flow of cigarettes comes from a variety of sources (Ref. 146). If it becomes more difficult for youth to buy cigarettes over the counter, greater numbers of youth will purchase them from vending machines or older peers, or borrow or steal from parents (id.).…”

Effects of a minimum-age tobacco law – Swedish experience

“…(girl smoker in year 9, 2000). Friend, 2002). In the long term, an effective minimum-age law may change parents' and older friends' attitudes, making them unwilling to buy tobacco for adolescents.…”