Where teenagers get their cigarettes: a survey of the purchasing habits of 13-16 year olds in 12 US communities

Abstract

Correspondence and requests for reprints to : Dr Cummings. Abstract Objective -To describe where teenage smokers obtain their cigarettes. Design and setting Data were obtained from a 1990 school-based survey of ninth grade students (aged 13 to 16 years) conducted in 12 US communities partici pating in the National Cancer Institute's COMMIT trial. Participants 4010 ninth grade students (aged 13-16 years); 610 current cigarette smokers. Results Eightytwo per cent of ninth grade students answered that it would be easy for them to get cigarettes if they wanted some. Among current smokers, 67% said that they usually bought their own cigarettes. Small shops were identi fied as the most common site of purchase, used often or sometimes by 81% of those who reported smoking daily; large shops were used by 59% and vending machines by 38 %. Conclusion The findings from this sur vey underscore the need for communities to more vigorously enforce laws to pre vent the sale of tobacco products to minors.