Enforcement of regional bans on tobacco sales to minors in Switzerland--example of missed opportunity?

Tobacco control policies, aiming at reducing youth's access to tobacco, revealed positive outcomes and were implemented in most of the European countries. A naturalistic field study was conducted to assess retailer compliance with a regional ban forbidding selling tobacco products to youths under the age of 18 in a Swiss canton. Results revealed that, 20 months after implementation, the ban was respected by about one out of seven retailers and compliance did not improve significantly over the following 24-month period. Potentials for concrete improvements were observed and a call for stronger implementation at the regional and local levels was made.