Long-term findings from Woodridge in reducing illegal cigarette sales to older minors.

The purpose of the present study is to assess the effectiveness of an enforcement program in reducing cigarette sales to older minors in a community that had been successful in reducing illegal sales of cigarettes to younger minors. Cigarette sales rates were monitored over a 3-year period with quarterly compliance testing in Woodridge, Illinois. Sales rates for older minors were found to be only slightly higher than those of younger minors with one exception. These findings suggest that the enforcement of cigarette control laws is an effective means by which access to cigarettes can be reduced for both younger and older minors.