FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 21, 1996
Terry Lightfoot (510) 987-9194
Terry.Lightfoot@ucop.edu

Store clerks can keep cigarettes from minors by asking them their age or for some form of identification. However, a new study found that 83 percent of clerks do not question minors as required by state law.

The study, funded through the University of California Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program, suggests that community indifference to smoking among children may play an important role in minors' access to tobacco.

Store clerks, who asked minors their age, refused to sell them cigarettes 96 percent of the time. Those who asked for identification turned minors away 99 percent of the time.

The findings of the study, which was conducted by researchers at the Public Health Foundation, will appear this week in the journal Preventive Medicine.

"For many years, scientists have suggested that asking for ages might reduce adolescent access to tobacco," said Hope Landrine, who conducted the research. "This is the first proof that shows it does make a difference. It also shows that efforts to reduce underage smoking must address the community indifference of store clerks and other adults."

The UC tobacco program grant money consists of tax dollars collected under Proposition 99. Adopted by voters in 1988, the proposition placed a special tax on tobacco sales to pay for research, education and physician and hospital services. Five percent of the tax collected is earmarked for research.

"This exciting project shows how research can make a real difference and have a direct impact on the citizens of California," said Susanne Hildebrand-Zanki, coordinator of the UC tobacco research program. "It also points out that a great deal of additional work still needs to be done."

The study sent 36 minors to purchase cigarettes once in each of 72 stores in San Bernardino County for a total of 2,567 purchase attempts. The participants were 10, 14 and 16 years old.

Collaborating with Landrine on this study were Elizabeth Klonoff and Roxanna Alcaraz of the Behavioral Health Institute at California State University-San Bernardino.

Landrine and other researchers are beginning an education program to help communities decrease tolerance for merchants who sell cigarettes to minors.

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NOTE:
More information is available from Hope Landrine, Public Health Foundation at (909) 944-0248 or Susanne Hildebrand-Zanki, UC Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program at (510) 987-9875.