American Journal of Public Health, Vol 91, Issue 7 1124-1125, Copyright © 2001 by American Public Health Association

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Measuring statewide merchant compliance with tobacco minimum age laws: the Massachusetts experience

JR DiFranza, CC Celebucki and PD Mowery
Department 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.

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