The effects of combining education and enforcement to reduce tobacco sales to minors. A study of four northern California communities.

摘要: Objective. —To examine the effects of a community education and law enforcement intervention on illegal tobacco sales to minors. Design. —A 2-year, before after trial with retail stores as unit analysis. Setting. —Implementation occurred in four suburban California communities populations 25000 100000. Participants. —All one half stores, randomly selected, other three (n = 169) were visited by minors aged 14 16 years intent purchase tobacco. Intervention. —Ongoing merchant operations conducted. Main Outcome Measures. —Over-the-counter vending machine primary outcomes. Results. —Among cohort at pretest 104) June 1988,71% sold over counter 92% through machines. At posttest 2 May 1990,24% 93% Of 31 issued citations, followed into courts where fines dismissed or reduced. Conclusions. —Education alone had limited effect reducing It did promote support for more aggressive strategies. Education plus decreased significantly over-the-counter sales; unaffected these interventions. The lack judicial level may temper effectiveness enforcement. Legislative remedies addressing obstacles are needed. ( JAMA . 1991;266:3168-3171)