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Measuring statewide merchant compliance with tobacco minimum age laws: the Massachusetts experience
J R DiFranza1, C C Celebucki, P D Mowery
1Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA 01655, USA. difranzj@ummhc.org
Objectives:
This study evaluated merchant compliance with laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors in Massachusetts.
Methods:
Stratified cluster sampling was used to select outlets from which youths aged 13 to 17 years attempted to purchase tobacco.
Results:
Illegal sales were more common when the youth purchasing the tobacco was older, when the clerk was male, and when tobacco was obtained from a self-service display or unlocked vending machine. Failure to request proof of age was the strongest predictor of illegal sales.
Conclusions:
Measured compliance rates are strongly influenced by the age of the youths used to purchase tobacco.