Minors' access to snuff: purchase outcomes at corporate owned and independently owned convenience stores

Results from many studies indicated that sales clerks sell cigarettes to minors. However, not many researchers have investigated how frequently merchants sell smokeless tobacco to minors. In the present study, sales of snuff to minors were assessed at corporate owned chains of convenience stores and at independently owned convenience stores. Two corporate owned chains with the largest number of convenience stores were selected (n = 45). A random sample of 45 independently owned convenience stores that held current tobacco licenses were also chosen. Two underage males attempted to purchase moist snuff at each of the 90 convenience stores included in the sample. Overall, underage buyers were sold snuff on one out of four purchase attempts. Sales occurred significantly more often in independently owned stores (35.6%) than in corporate owned stores (13.3%). An important variable that appeared to determine whether the sales clerk sold snuff was request for identification.