Does a minimum-age law for purchasing tobacco make any difference? Swedish experiences over eight years.
BACKGROUND
The purpose was to study possible changes in adolescents' opportunities for purchasing tobacco during the period 1996-2005. The study also investigated regional differences in adolescents' opportunities for purchasing tobacco, and elucidated the efforts by the authorities to affect the compliance with the minimum-age law of 18.


METHODS
In 1996, 1999, 2002, and 2005, 3150 test purchases of tobacco were conducted in controlled forms by 48 adolescents in three regions of Sweden. In addition, in 2005, 28 structured telephone interviews were conducted with key people in tobacco prevention work.


RESULTS
In 1996, 84% of all test purchases in shops with a voluntary age-limit ended with the test purchasers succeeding in purchasing tobacco. This may be compared with 48% in 2005, 8 years after the age-limit law was introduced. The result of the test purchases and of the interviews showed differences between the three regions in compliance and in activities connected with the minimum-age tobacco law.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that the minimum-age law for the purchase of tobacco has had an effect on adolescents' opportunities for purchasing tobacco and that compliance has improved since its introduction in 1997. The result also indicates avenues for further improving compliance with the age-limit law.
Sundh
M
M
Karlstad University Karlstad, Sweden. mona.sundh@kau.se
Hagquist
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D040541:Marketing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D033242:Minors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D011640:Public Policy; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014505:Urban Population