Purchasing of cigarettes by New Zealand secondary students in 2000.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of under-age sales of cigarettes to New Zealand secondary school students in 2000 and to identify correlates of buying cigarettes.


METHODS
A randomly selected sample of 53 secondary schools from five geographic regions took part, and 2,896 Year 10 and Year 12 students completed a self-report questionnaire.


RESULTS
Some 30.3% reported smoking during the past 30 days and 61.8% of these students usually obtained cigarettes by purchasing from shops, from other students or from someone else buying them on their behalf. Local corner stores and service stations were the most popular source. Buying cigarettes was associated with more frequent smoking, more money to spend, a higher school decile rating and higher proportion of schoolmates also purchasing.


CONCLUSIONS
Prohibition of cigarette sales to minors needs much greater attention in NZ than it is receiving at present if smoking among young people is to be reduced.
McGee
Rob
R
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin, New Zealand. rob.mcgee@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Williams
Sheila
S
Reeder
Anthony
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012923:Social Class; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data