This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Sundh, M. Articles by Hagquist, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sundh, M. Articles by Hagquist, C. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

The importance of a minimum age law for the possibility of purchase of tobacco by adolescents: a study based on Swedish experiences

Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden, mona.sundh{at}kau.se

Curt Hagquist

Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden

Aims: The purpose of the study is partly to compare the possibility of adolescents purchasing tobacco before and after the introduction of the minimum age law of 18 years, respectively, and partly to examine the factors that characterize the situations in which adolescents may or may not purchase tobacco, respectively. Methods: Under controlled conditions, adolescents of varying ages carried out test purchases of tobacco. A total of 1,500 attempted purchases were made with the help of 24 adolescents in three regions of Sweden. In 1996, the year before a minimum-age law of 18 for tobacco purchases went into effect, 750 attempted purchases were made, followed by 750 attempted purchases in 1999. Results: In 1996, 91% of the attempted purchases of tobacco were successful. In 1999, the corresponding proportion was 82%. The attempted purchases in 1996 and 1999 show a very strong relationship between whether an age check was made and the result of the attempted purchase. Conclusions: The study shows that the introduction of a minimum-age law apparently has had a certain effect on the possibility of adolescent purchasing tobacco but that there are obvious shortcomings in the enforcement of the minimum age. The most apparent shortcoming concerns the lack of age controls. This article discusses measures for strengthening age controls in the sale of tobacco to adolescents.

Key Words: adolescents • age control • legislation • purchase attempts • Sweden • tobacco control.

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 32, No. 1, 68-74 (2004)
DOI: 10.1080/14034940410024202


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. W. Courser, H. D. Holder, D. Collins, K. Johnson, and K. A. Ogilvie Evaluating Retailer Behavior in Preventing Youth Access to Harmful Legal Products A Feasibility Test Eval Rev, October 1, 2009; 33(5): 497 - 515. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. M. I. Verdonk-Kleinjan, R. A. Knibbe, B. Bieleman, H. N. de Groot, and H. de Vries The tobacco sales ban and tobacco purchases by adolescents: a general population study in The Netherlands Eur J Public Health, October 1, 2008; 18(5): 498 - 503. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. W. Courser, H. D. Holder, D. Collins, K. Johnson, and K. Ogilvie An Evaluation of Retail Outlets as Part of a Community Prevention Trial to Reduce Sales of Harmful Legal Products to Youth Eval Rev, August 1, 2007; 31(4): 343 - 363. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Sundh and C. Hagquist Does a minimum-age law for purchasing tobacco make any difference? Swedish experiences over eight years Eur J Public Health, April 1, 2007; 17(2): 171 - 177. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sundh and C. Hagquist Compliance with a minimum-age law of 18 for the purchase of tobacco--the case of Sweden Health Educ. Res., July 1, 2006; 21(3): 378 - 385. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]