Analysis on status and influence factors of tobacco sales to minors

  Objective   To explore the prevalence and influence factors of self-reported tobacco sales to minors.

  Methods   With self-administered questionnaires, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 286 tobacco retailers to understand the prevalence of sales to minor.And the significant influence factors associated with tobacco sales to minors were examined.

  Results   A total of 268 questionnaires were used in final analysis.Of the tobacco retailers, 167(62.3%)reported the stores in which they worked held the allowance certificate for tobacco sale and 181(67.5%)said that the warning signs of 'No selling tobacco to minors' were placed in their stores.And 116(43.3%)retailers had ever asked or judged purchasers'ages and 146 (53.4%)retailers would sell tobacco to minors.The result of multivariable analysis showed that three factors were significantly associated with selling tobacco to minors.Compared with special shops for selling tobacco and big supermarkets, small supermarkets were more likely to sell tobacco to minors(OR=3.60), as well as groceries(OR=2.52).Furthermore, the retailers who asked or judged the ages of purchasers had less possibility to sell tobacco to minors(OR=0.22), so did the retailers with high scores of attitudes toward the responsibility of tobacco control in adolescents(OR=0.85).Without consideration of their types, the stores with signs of'No selling cigarettes to minors' were less likely to sell.

  Conclusion   The prevalence of tobacco sales to minors is substantially high, especially in the small supermarkets and groceries.Regulations related to punishing tobacco sales to minor should be made up and enforced strictly.Necessary law education must be offered to tobacco retail2 ers immediately.