OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of implementation and enforcement of the California STAKE Act on minors' access to tobacco by examining sales over time in the same stores. DESIGN: Sixteen year old girls and boys attempted to purchase cigarettes in the same 72 stores, in the same manner, in five time periods: August 1994 (before implementation of legislation); August 1995 (immediately after implementation); August 1996; March 1998; and January 1999 (all postimplementation). OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage of successful cigarette purchases over time, in different ethnic communities. RESULTS: Minors' access rate decreased significantly from 41.2% before implementation of legislation (1994) to 12.7% after implementation (1998). The same stores were 3-5 times more likely to sell cigarettes to minors before than after the legislation was implemented, irrespective of ethnic census tract. CONCLUSIONS: The California STAKE Act and its enforcement have been effective in reducing minors' access to tobacco in all ethnic communities.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of implementation and enforcement of the California STAKE Act on minors' access to tobacco by examining sales over time in the same stores. DESIGN: Sixteen year old girls and boys attempted to purchase cigarettes in the same 72 stores, in the same manner, in five time periods: August 1994 (before implementation of legislation); August 1995 (immediately after implementation); August 1996; March 1998; and January 1999 (all postimplementation). OUTCOME MEASURE: Percentage of successful cigarette purchases over time, in different ethnic communities. RESULTS: Minors' access rate decreased significantly from 41.2% before implementation of legislation (1994) to 12.7% after implementation (1998). The same stores were 3-5 times more likely to sell cigarettes to minors before than after the legislation was implemented, irrespective of ethnic census tract. CONCLUSIONS: The California STAKE Act and its enforcement have been effective in reducing minors' access to tobacco in all ethnic communities.
Authors: Lorraine Greaves; Joy Johnson; Joan Bottorff; Susan Kirkland; Natasha Jategaonkar; Melissa McGowan; Lucy McCullough; Lupin Battersby Journal: Can J Public Health Date: 2006 Jul-Aug