title: Tobacco outlet density, retailer cigarette sales without ID checks and enforcement of underage tobacco laws: associations with youths' cigarette smoking and beliefs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the relationships of tobacco outlet density, cigarette sales without ID checks and local enforcement of underage tobacco laws with youth's life-time cigarette smoking, perceived availability of tobacco and perceived enforcement of underage tobacco laws and changes over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study involved: (a) three annual telephone surveys, (b) two annual purchase surveys in 2000 tobacco outlets and (c) interviews with key informants from local law enforcement agencies. Analyses were multi-level models (city, individual, time).
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 50 mid-sized non-contiguous cities in California, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1478 youths (aged 13-16 at wave 1, 52.2% male); 1061 participated in all waves.
  
  
  METHODS
  Measures at the individual level included life-time cigarette smoking, perceived availability and perceived enforcement. City-level measures included tobacco outlet density, cigarette sales without ID checks and compliance checks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outlet density was associated positively with life-time smoking [OR = 1.12, P < 0.01]. An interaction between outlet density and wave (OR = 0.96, P < 0.05) suggested that higher density was associated more closely with life-time smoking at the earlier waves when respondents were younger. Greater density was associated positively with perceived availability (β = 0.02, P < 0.05) and negatively with perceived enforcement (β = -0.02, P < 0.01). Sales rate without checking IDs was related to greater perceived availability (β = 0.01, P < 0.01) and less perceived enforcement (β = -0.01, P < 0.01). Enforcement of underage tobacco laws was related positively to perceived enforcement (β = 0.06, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Higher tobacco outlet density may contribute to life-time smoking among youths. Density, sales without ID checks and enforcement levels may influence beliefs about access to cigarettes and enforcement of underage tobacco sales laws.
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lipperman-Kreda
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Oakland, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Joel W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Grube
authors.affiliation: Decision Sciences Institute, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Pawtucket, RI, USA.
authors.forename: Karen B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Friend
authors.affiliation: Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Oakland, CA, USA.|University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mair
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003132:Commerce / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035846:Law Enforcement; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Cigarette smoking; enforcement; retailer non-compliance; tobacco outlet density; tobacco-related beliefs; youths