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The European Journal of Public Health Advance Access originally published online on August 3, 2006
The European Journal of Public Health 2007 17(2):171-177; doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckl109
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© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Smoking

Does a minimum-age law for purchasing tobacco make any difference? Swedish experiences over eight years

M. Sundh1 and C. Hagquist2

1 Master of Public Health, Karlstad University Karlstad, Sweden
2 Associate Professor of Public Health, Karlstad University Karlstad, Sweden

Correspondence: Mona Sundh, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden, tel: +46 54 7002501, fax: +46 54 7002523, e-mail: mona.sundh{at}kau.se

Received March 16, 2006 , accepted June 22, 2006

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.

Keywords: adolescents, minimum-age law, tobacco


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