Sustained effects of an educational program to reduce sales of cigarettes to minors

We report 1-year follow-up data from a sample of stores participating in a 6-month community-wide educational effort to reduce cigarette sales to minors in Santa Clara County, California. The proportion of over-the-counter sales to minors at the 1-year follow-up illustrated that although statistically significant reductions were maintained 6 months after the intervention ended, recidivism occurred. Suggestions for achieving long-term reductions in sales to minors are offered.