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. 2016 Mar;111(3):525-32.
doi: 10.1111/add.13179. Epub 2015 Nov 21.

Tobacco outlet density, retailer cigarette sales without ID checks and enforcement of underage tobacco laws: associations with youths' cigarette smoking and beliefs

Sharon Lipperman-Kreda  1 , Joel W Grube  1 , Karen B Friend  2 , Christina Mair  1   3
Affiliations

Tobacco outlet density, retailer cigarette sales without ID checks and enforcement of underage tobacco laws: associations with youths' cigarette smoking and beliefs

Sharon Lipperman-Kreda et al. Addiction. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Aims: To estimate the relationships of tobacco outlet density, cigarette sales without ID checks and local enforcement of underage tobacco laws with youth's life-time cigarette smoking, perceived availability of tobacco and perceived enforcement of underage tobacco laws and changes over time.

Design: The study involved: (a) three annual telephone surveys, (b) two annual purchase surveys in 2000 tobacco outlets and (c) interviews with key informants from local law enforcement agencies. Analyses were multi-level models (city, individual, time).

Setting: A sample of 50 mid-sized non-contiguous cities in California, USA.

Participants: A total of 1478 youths (aged 13-16 at wave 1, 52.2% male); 1061 participated in all waves.

Measurements: Measures at the individual level included life-time cigarette smoking, perceived availability and perceived enforcement. City-level measures included tobacco outlet density, cigarette sales without ID checks and compliance checks.

Findings: Outlet density was associated positively with life-time smoking [OR = 1.12, P < 0.01]. An interaction between outlet density and wave (OR = 0.96, P < 0.05) suggested that higher density was associated more closely with life-time smoking at the earlier waves when respondents were younger. Greater density was associated positively with perceived availability (β = 0.02, P < 0.05) and negatively with perceived enforcement (β = -0.02, P < 0.01). Sales rate without checking IDs was related to greater perceived availability (β = 0.01, P < 0.01) and less perceived enforcement (β = -0.01, P < 0.01). Enforcement of underage tobacco laws was related positively to perceived enforcement (β = 0.06, P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Higher tobacco outlet density may contribute to life-time smoking among youths. Density, sales without ID checks and enforcement levels may influence beliefs about access to cigarettes and enforcement of underage tobacco sales laws.

Keywords: Cigarette smoking; enforcement; retailer non-compliance; tobacco outlet density; tobacco-related beliefs; youths.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Lifetime cigarette smoking by survey wave and levels of tobacco outlet density
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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