Underage Sales Research Articles

Young people's use of disposable vapes: A qualitative study.

Youth use of disposable vapes has increased markedly in the United Kingdom in recent years, yet little is known about the motivations, experiences and perceptions of young people themselves. This study aimed to explore young people's experiences and use of disposable vapes. This was a qualitative study recruiting young people reporting regularly vaping disposables, collecting data via dyad guided, individual and group interviews. Data analysis was theoretically informed by the Social Ecological Model. Inductive and deductive coding approaches were used, with resolution of coded interpretations by consensus. Twenty-nine young people aged 16-20 years participated in qualitative interviews. At the individual level, participants discussed how characteristics of disposable vapes were important to them-particularly price, accessibility and the attractive designs, colours, names and flavours. Young people frequently engaged in both vaping and tobacco smoking, seeing the behaviours as interchangeable dependent on context, and having inaccurate relative harm perceptions of vaping compared with smoking. Experimentation was widespread and many used vapes as a way of managing stress and anxiety. Vaping was positioned as a social behaviour, common among peers. Parental influence on vaping behaviour was minimal, although vaping initiation could be influenced by family vaping norms. Culturally, vaping was a widespread normalized behaviour. Young people were aware of media reports and potential harms, but were less aware of smoking related harms as a consequence. Disposable vapes appear to be attractive and accessible to young people in the United Kingdom. Vaping is normalized in this population, despite being seen as potentially damaging to health, and vaping and smoking are engaged in interchangeably. Underage sales of vapes are reportedly widespread. Strict regulation, such as banning products or increasing prices, may prompt UK youth to switch from vaping to smoking.

A review of the landscape of state Tobacco 21 laws: Key components, research challenges, and future directions

BackgroundTo understand the impact of laws raising minimum legal sales age for tobacco products to age 21, researchers and policymakers need to recognize how recommended policy components vary across states. This paper identified and reviewed policy components across 43 jurisdictions that have enacted Tobacco 21 (T21) laws since 2015. MethodsUsing NexisUni’s database of state laws and legislation, we evaluated T21 laws in effect as of January 2024 and assessed for the incorporation of six components recommended in proposed model legislation: 1) age verification; 2) tobacco retailer licensing; 3) provisions to suspend or revoke a license; 4) unannounced inspections; 5) retailer civil or criminal penalties; and 6) provisions that allow for more stringent local laws. ResultsOnly one state included all six components we reviewed, including limiting penalties to civil fines. All jurisdictions included a provision to change the legal sales age of purchase and 37 imposed requirements on retailers to verify identification. Thirty-eight jurisdictions had licensing programs, but only 31 included license suspension or revocation provisions for underage sales. Twenty-three jurisdictions preempt localities from imposing more stringent requirements. Twenty-five jurisdictions use a mix of civil and criminal or solely criminal penalties and 21 jurisdictions have penalties for underage purchasers. ConclusionsOur database of recommended T21 components with effective dates can be merged with other datasets to facilitate policy evaluation. We discuss ways to enhance research and data collection in this area, and recommend that states update MLSA laws to adopt all recommended policy components.

Alcohol consumption patterns, suppliers and online alcohol marketing: Before and during COVID-19 alcohol bans

COVID-19-related alcohol sales bans and stay-at-home orders prompted the alcohol industry in South Africa to increase their online alcohol sales promotions. We investigated changes in alcohol-related behaviour and the drivers of illegal alcohol sales through a self-reported Facebook survey that ran from July to November 2020. Questions included socio-demographics and comparison of alcohol purchasing behaviour and intake during 2019 and 2020. Statistical tests were applied to find associations between illegal alcohol purchasing and alcohol-related behaviours. A total of 792 participants took part in the survey, 69.7% of whom were female. During lockdown periods, most participants (55.3%) bought alcohol illegally from illegal outlets or friends. Online alcohol-delivery marketing increased by 20 percentage points from 2019 to 2020, with participants stating that they saw a lot of advertisements per day and 80% of persons under 25 years were not asked to verify their age in 2020 upon delivery. Home-brewed beer and vodka intake increased in 2020 during the alcohol sales bans. Men from the Western Cape who engaged in daily or weekly heavy episodic drinking were more prone to purchase alcohol illegally. The Western Cape, which is South Africa’s most prolific wine-producing region, had the highest odds of people buying alcohol illegally, with wine being found to be the most frequently bought alcohol online and consumed by these participants. There is a need for further research into the differences in alcohol-related behaviour affecting illegal alcohol purchasing according to income group, proximity to alcohol producers and underage alcohol sales and marketing through online applications. Significance: Alcohol sales bans have the potential to reduce and stop the alcohol intake of moderate drinkers, but may make heavy episodic drinkers drink more than usual. During COVID-19 lockdown, illegal alcohol sales were taking place through unlicenced alcohol outlets and friends, and not through licenced online applications. Unlicenced alcohol outlets need to be addressed to prevent future illegal alcohol sales. Stricter regulations aimed at legal online alcohol sales applications should be put in place to prevent alcohol sales to minors and those who have already consumed too much alcohol. There should be a ban on marketing of addictive substances, such as alcohol.

Perception of and legal compliance with the law prohibiting cigarette sales to minors in Thailand following the raising of the minimum selling age to 20 years: a cross-sectional survey

ObjectivesThe minimum age for cigarette sales in Thailand was increased from 18 to 20 years, as stipulated in the Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2017. This study investigated tobacco retailers’...

Retailers’ perspectives on the prevention of underage tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery system sales

Background: Tobacco retailers have an important role to play in reducing access to tobacco among youth, but in the USA, their role has become more complicated because of recent developments in policies and industry, such as the Indiana Tobacco-21 law and the rising popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products. This study aimed to explore Indiana retailers’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills related to the prevention of underage sales of tobacco and ENDS products and identify retailers’ needs for further education and training. Methods: The study involved a secondary analysis of anonymous cross-sectional data from the 2020 Indiana Tobacco Compliance Survey conducted by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA). Managers and owners of retail stores who sold tobacco or ENDS products (i.e., large corporate-owned stores and smaller venues such as tobacco shops, vapour shops, and convenience stores) were eligible for inclusion. Records of retailers’ tobacco certificates were utilised for random sampling. Subgroup comparisons were conducted using chi-square tests. Results: The survey sample ( n = 102) included participants from all 10 DMHA planning regions in Indiana and all types of tobacco retail stores. Many retailers did not know about or understand the negative impacts of ENDS products on young people or existing regulations to minimise these impacts and the Indiana State Tobacco-21 law. Retailers in larger stores had a greater objective knowledge and reported more frequent prevention programme utilisation than smaller stores (e.g., by means of ‘We Card’). Conclusions: Underage tobacco sale prevention procedures varied significantly, but resources such as ‘We Card’ and ‘This is Our Watch’ were more popular than alternatives. Retailers reported a need for more convenient education and training options on how to check photo identification and refuse sales to minors.

Underage Sales of Tobacco in Dollar Stores and Top Grocery Stores, 2015–2020, U.S.

Youth access to tobacco in retail settings remains a pressing public health concern and may vary across retail corporations. This study compares underage sales violation rates in tobacco-selling dollar store corporations-a rapidly growing retail segment where cheaper tobacco prices may appeal to youth-with rates in other major grocery corporations. In 2021, U.S. Food and Drug Administration data (N=64,059 inspections) from January 2015 to March 2020 were used to compare underage tobacco sales in the two major tobacco-selling dollar store corporations, Dollar General and Family Dollar, with sales in major grocery corporations: Albertsons, Delhaize, Kroger, Publix, and Walmart. Generalized linear mixed models controlled for neighborhood characteristics. Post hoc analyses examined whether the corporation with the highest violation rate was more likely to be in neighborhoods with higher proportions of racially minoritized residents, socioeconomic disadvantage, or rural status. Family Dollar failed 12.1% of underage sales inspections. All other corporations had a significantly lower likelihood of selling tobacco to an underage buyer than Family Dollar. This significant association persisted after controlling for neighborhood characteristics. Family Dollar locations were associated with being in neighborhoods with higher proportions of racially minoritized residents and greater socioeconomic disadvantage. Regulating corporate behavior is necessary to reduce underage access to tobacco in dollar stores and address place-based inequities in youth tobacco access. Increasing the use of U.S. Food and Drug Administration no-tobacco-sale orders and Assurances of Voluntary Compliance, which provide a mechanism for state attorneys general to engage with tobacco retailers regarding enforcement of minimum legal sales age laws, may help to reduce youth tobacco access in retail settings.

Assessing the effects of the Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project (SNAPP) on child abuse and neglect

BackgroundThe role of alcohol use in the etiology of abusive and neglectful parenting is significant. We examined how the Sacramento Neighborhood Alcohol Prevention Project (SNAPP) may have reduced rates of substantiated child maltreatment, entries into foster care, and entries into foster care where alcohol use was a factor. Participants and settingThe study sample is 326 Census block groups: 21 and 16 in the South and North intervention areas, respectively, and 289 in the At-Large comparison area in Sacramento, California. MethodsSNAPP used a quasi-experimental design to reduce alcohol supply and alcohol-related problems among 15–29 year olds in two economically, racially, and ethnically diverse neighborhoods. The dependent variables are substantiated child abuse and neglect; total foster care entries; and alcohol-related foster care entries. ResultsSubstantiated child abuse and neglect was inconclusive for both intervention areas. In the North, total (RR = 0.822, 95 % CI [0.721, 0.933]) and alcohol-related (RR = 0.760, 95 % CI [0.634, 0.914]) foster care entries decreased by 17.8 % and 24.0 %, respectively. Intervention effects in the South were not well-supported for foster care entries (RR = 1.118, 95 % CI [0.988, 1.258]), but increased alcohol-related foster care entries (RR = 1.264, 95 % CI [1.075, 1.484]). ConclusionsEnvironmental intervention strategies may be effective at reducing child abuse and neglect. However, given the mixed findings from our work, we need to identify under what conditions these interventions work best and whether some components of these strategies (e.g. awareness vs. enforcement of underage sales) differentially affect child abuse and neglect.

A Pilot Study to Examine Retailer Compliance Before and After Tobacco 21 in New Jersey.

Despite rapid diffusion of Tobacco 21 (T21) laws in the last several years, research examining T21 compliance remains limited. This pilot study examined retailer compliance with carding before and after T21 as well as sales violations after T21 in New Jersey. A 19-year-old buyer made alternating cigar and cigarette purchase attempts in 15 licensed tobacco retailers weekly for five weeks before and 10 weeks following the T21 effective date for a total of 222 visits. We analyzed carding pre and post T21 and sales violations post T21, by store and product type. Failure to card declined post T21 (81.3% to 69.4%), particularly for cigarettes, but not cigars. Overall, 63.3% of retailers sold tobacco to the underage buyer post T21. Following New Jersey's T21 law, compliance with carding improved, but underage sales persisted. Future research examining T21 compliance should consider using a familiarity protocol to mimic real word conditions.

UK tests biometrics to stop under-age alcohol sales

UK tests biometrics to stop under-age alcohol sales

Underutilisation of no-tobacco-sale orders against retailers that repeatedly sell to minors, 2015–2019, USA

ImportanceResearch demonstrates that policies aimed at retailers who sell to minors must be strongly enforced to have an impact on youth usage rates.ObjectivesIn the USA, the Food and Drug Administration...

Increasing compliance with alcohol service laws in community sporting clubs in Australia

Many community sporting clubs in Australia sell alcohol, but many do not comply with laws that require verification of age and forbid underage alcohol sales. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an intervention that incorporated sales monitoring and community awareness raising to improve compliance with alcohol service regulations in community sporting clubs. Non-randomised community trial in 'matched' intervention and comparison communities. A total of 50 sporting clubs from two metropolitan and two regional areas in Victoria, Australia, were selected, and baseline and follow-up purchase observations completed during 2018. Youth who looked underage were monitored as they attempted to purchase alcohol. Intervention clubs received feedback letters regarding staff sales behaviour. Other intervention actions included building awareness of underage supply of alcohol and media coverage of baseline observations. Observations were completed at 46 clubs (intervention=24; comparison=22) at baseline and 39 (intervention=24; comparison=15) at follow up. Compliance was low but improved at follow up for both groups for age verification (intervention +12.5%; comparison +8.5%) and non-supply of alcohol (intervention +12.5%; comparison +10.6%); but no significant intervention effects were found. Findings indicated low compliance with age verification checks and underage alcohol sales laws at baseline. Promising improvements in compliance were observed at follow up; however, 'spillover' of intervention activities may have compromised ability to detect significant intervention effects. Further intervention effort and evaluation is recommended to encourage alcohol sales compliance in community sporting clubs.

Retail violations of sales to minors on e-cigarettes and cigars

ObjectivesThe finalized ‘Deeming Rule’ extended the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate e-cigarettes, cigars, and other newly deemed tobacco products. We seek to assess the neighborhood characteristics associated with retail violations of sales to minors (RVSM) by tobacco product. Study designWe collected national inspection data on tobacco retailers during August 8, 2016, and May 31, 2018, from the FDA compliance check database. MethodsA web scraping tool was applied to text mine the FDA decision letters and extract information on the tobacco product involved in RVSM. Separate logistic regression models with random effects were performed to examine the association between zip code-level neighborhood characteristics and RVSM by tobacco product. ResultsOf 268,317 minor-involved compliance inspections, 35,403 (13.2%) were identified as RVSM. Among 23,352 warning letters included in the final analysis, e-cigarettes, cigars, cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco accounted for 20.0% (n = 4673), 40.4% (9439), 35.6% (8303), and 4.0% (937) of RVSM, respectively. Flavored tobacco products were abundant among underage sales. For e-cigarettes, RVSM were more likely to occur in zip codes with a larger proportion of youth population aged 10–17 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.17 [1.02–1.34]). A larger proportion of African Americans was associated with a higher risk of RVSM for cigars (AOR = 1.09 [1.07–1.11]) but a lower risk of RVSM for e-cigarettes (AOR = 0.90 [0.87–0.93]). ConclusionsRetail violations of underage sales for cigars and e-cigarettes are prevalent and neighborhood characteristics associated with violations differ by tobacco product. Continued inspections with tailored strategies to reduce RVSM of all tobacco products are needed.

Selling Lottery Products To Minors: Factors Affecting Retailer Compliance

Illegal gambling by adolescent minors has become a major issue in many societies and lottery gambling is often considered a “gateway” to gambling more generally among this age group. The purpose of this study was to identify the influencing factors that affect retailer compliance concerning the selling of lottery products to minors. The research team received the original data (i) directly from the sales agents of the Austrian Lotteries after their responsible gambling training of the retailer in 2014/2015 (Round 1: n = 5032), (ii) directly from a third-party agency carrying out test purchases (i.e., “mystery shopping”) in 2014 (Round 2: n = 1421), and (iii) retailers’ responses to their attitudes to youth protection issues (through direct interface with the research team) in 2015 (Round 3: n = 4516). The data from a total of 1036 participants who had taken part in all three rounds was analyzed in the present study. Results showed that in 13.1% of mystery shopping checks (n = 1421), lottery products were sold to a test purchaser under the age of 16 years. The analysis also showed that the older the test purchaser, the greater the likelihood that a lottery product was sold. Under-age lottery sales to girls were over three times more prevalent than sales to boys. Finally, the analysis showed that the higher the number of responsible gambling training sessions completed in the past and the more positive the attitude towards mystery shopping, the higher the compliance rate not to sell a lottery product to young mystery shoppers. Recommendations to increase compliance and raise the awareness among retailers are presented.

Assessment of Underage Sales Violations in Tobacco Stores and Vape Shops

Assessment of Underage Sales Violations in Tobacco Stores and Vape Shops

Underage alcohol sales in community sporting clubs.

Adolescent alcohol consumption and associated harms are significant public health issues in Australia. One strategy to reduce this problem is restricting alcohol supply to adolescents below age 18. To ensure compliance with laws that forbid underage alcohol sales, effective monitoring systems that operate across a range of settings, including sporting clubs, are required. This study investigated compliance with regulations requiring proof of age identification and refusal of underage alcohol sales in community sporting clubs. Compliance with alcohol sales laws was monitored using a male confederate that appeared under 18 who attempted to purchase alcohol at community sporting clubs in two regional areas of Victoria, Australia during the 2016-2017 sporting seasons. Purchase observations were completed at 43 clubs (observations could not be conducted at 14 clubs); alcohol was purchased at 41 (95%) clubs. Four (9%) clubs asked the confederate-purchaser to provide identification of age-in two instances the purchaser was not sold alcohol and in two instances was sold alcohol after not showing identification. Rates of compliance with proof of age identification and alcohol sales did not vary according to staff- and club-related variables. This study indicates the need for more rigorous enforcement of alcohol sales regulations in community sporting clubs. Community health agencies could work with sporting clubs to assist them to improve compliance with alcohol sales regulations and to provide information on the significant role clubs play in shaping the adolescent alcohol culture.

FDA cracks down on underage sales of popular e‐cigarette device

Alcoholism & Drug Abuse WeeklyVolume 30, Issue 17 p. 4-5 Articles FDA cracks down on underage sales of popular e-cigarette device Alison Knopf, Alison KnopfSearch for more papers by this author Alison Knopf, Alison KnopfSearch for more papers by this author First published: 27 April 2018 https://doi.org/10.1002/adaw.31941Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume30, Issue1730 April 2018Pages 4-5 RelatedInformation

Tobacco control achievements and priority areas in the WHO Europe Region: A review.

INTRODUCTIONTobacco control efforts have been advancing globally, including the adoption and entry into force of the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC), as well as the adoption of the European Union EU Tobacco Products Directive. With the present review, the European Network for Smoking and Tobacco Prevention (ENSP) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) aim to provide a comprehensive overview on the status of WHO FCTC implementation, policy achievements and priority areas across countries in the WHO Europe Region.METHODSThe review was conducted through a triangulation of data extracted from a survey administered to ENSP members, the WHO FCTC Implementation Database, Tobacco Control Laws and the Tobacco Control Scale 2016.RESULTSUsing the WHO MPOWER measures as a framework, we report on the implementation status of nine FCTC articles across 47 countries in the WHO Europe Region. The average number of articles fully implemented was 3.58. FCTC articles least fully implemented were: Article 5.3 on Tobacco Industry Interference (25.5%, n=12), Article 20 on Research (34.0%, n=16), and Article 15 on Illicit trade (40.4%, n=19). The most commonly fully implemented articles were: Article 8 on Smoke-free legislation (63.8%, n=30), Article 16 on Underage sales (57.4%, n=27), and Article 6 on Price and tax measures (51.2%, n=24). Policy achievements and recommended priority areas for future national tobacco control activities varied greatly among countries.CONCLUSIONSFindings highlight the multitude of successes in tobacco control efforts across the region in recent years, but point out the need to address gaps in FCTC implementation.

The effects of assurances of voluntary compliance on retail sales to minors in the United States: 2015–2016

Multiple state attorneys generals have entered assurances of voluntary compliance (AVCs) with numerous national retail chains as an application of consumer protection laws to help prevent tobacco sales to minors. Little is known about the effectiveness of AVCs in reducing the violations of tobacco retailers for underage sales. We collected inspection data involving minors (n=53,832) on tobacco retailers in 2015 and 2016 from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliance check database. Inspections on 13 national retail chains were classified into four categories: gas stations from oil companies, convenience stores, pharmacy stores, and supermarkets. Multilevel logistic regression models were performed to examine the effectiveness of AVCs, adjusted for state tobacco control policies, state youth smoking rates, and socio-economic status (SES) at census tracts. Overall the Retail Violation Rate for sales to minors (RVRm) significantly varied by retail category from 7.7% in pharmacy stores to 18.9% in gas stations from oil companies. Retailers that entered an AVC had lower odds of underage sales violations in convenience stores (aOR=0.75, 95% CI [0.61–0.93]) and supermarkets (aOR=0.74, 95% CI [0.59–0.93]). For gas stations from oil companies and pharmacy stores, there were no significant differences in RVRm between stores with an AVC and stores without an AVC. We found that entering into AVCs is associated with fewer retail violations of underage sales for convenience stores and pharmacy stores. Continued efforts to strengthen the enforcement of AVCs and to expand AVCs to more states and other retail chains may improve youth tobacco control.

Public attitudes towards alcohol control policies in Scotland and England: Results from a mixed-methods study

The harmful effects of heavy drinking on health have been widely reported, yet public opinion on governmental responsibility for alcohol control remains divided. This study examines UK public attitudes towards alcohol policies, identifies underlying dimensions that inform these, and relationships with perceived effectiveness. A cross-sectional mixed methods study involving a telephone survey of 3477 adult drinkers aged 16–65 and sixteen focus groups with 89 adult drinkers in Scotland and England was conducted between September 2012 and February 2013. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to reduce twelve policy statements into underlying dimensions. These dimensions were used in linear regression models examining alcohol policy support by demographics, drinking behaviour and perceptions of UK drinking and government responsibility. Findings were supplemented with a thematic analysis of focus group transcripts. A majority of survey respondents supported all alcohol policies, although the level of support varied by type of policy. Greater enforcement of laws on under-age sales and more police patrolling the streets were strongly supported while support for pricing policies and restricting access to alcohol was more divided. PCA identified four main dimensions underlying support on policies: alcohol availability, provision of health information and treatment services, alcohol pricing, and greater law enforcement. Being female, older, a moderate drinker, and holding a belief that government should do more to reduce alcohol harms were associated with higher support on all policy dimensions. Focus group data revealed findings from the survey may have presented an overly positive level of support on all policies due to differences in perceived policy effectiveness. Perceived effectiveness can help inform underlying patterns of policy support and should be considered in conjunction with standard measures of support in future research on alcohol control policies.

A Neighborhood Analysis of Underage Tobacco Sales within the Serving Area of a Canadian Public Health Unit

Despite the fact that the sale of tobacco to minors is illegal in Ontario, youth are still able to purchase tobacco. This study aims to determine the geographic variations of underage tobacco sales at the neighborhood level within the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Data were collected on all inspections of tobacco retail stores from 2007 to 2011 in the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Data were split into season 1 (September-February) and season 2 (March-August) to assess a possible seasonal effect. Relative risks were calculated for each dissemination area (DA) by modeling the risks in a hierarchical Bayesian fashion, incorporating appropriate random effects terms for both spatially correlated and uncorrelated random errors with adjustments for neighborhood income. The association between violation rate and proximity to a school was assessed through a buffer analysis. Elliptical analysis detected a significant cluster of high risk DAs in season 1 in Windsor (p-value = 0.022) but no significant cluster in season 2. Some DAs exhibited higher relative risks of tobacco sales to minors, however after adjusting the model for neighborhood income no excess risk was observed. The results of the buffer analysis showed that in season 1 there was a significantly higher probability (p-value = 0.045) of tobacco vendors located closer to schools to sell tobacco to minors. This analysis demonstrates the utility of a systematic approach to identifying neighborhoods with higher risks of tobacco sales to minors. The insights provided by this exploratory, ecologic study are valuable for program planning and directing tobacco enforcement efforts to high risk areas.