Northern Medical Program, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
Biostatistical Consulting Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Tob Control. 2018 Oct;27(e2):e105-e111. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2017-053869. Epub 2018 Jan 13.
Recently, the US Institute of Medicine has proposed that raising the minimum age for tobacco purchasing/sales to 21 years would likely lead to reductions in smoking behavior among young people. Surprisingly few studies, however, have assessed the potential impacts of minimum-age tobacco restrictions on youth smoking.
To estimate the impacts of Canadian minimum age for tobacco sales (MATS) laws on youth smoking behaviour.
A regression-discontinuity design, using seven merged cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey, 2000-2014.
Survey respondents aged 14-22 years (n=98 320).
Current Canadian MATS laws are 18 years in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, the Yukon and Northwest Territories, and 19 years of age in the rest of the country.
Current, occasional and daily smoking status; smoking frequency and intensity; and average monthly cigarette consumption.
In comparison to age groups slightly younger than the MATS, those just older had significant and abrupt increases immediately after the MATS in the prevalence of current smokers (absolute increase: 2.71%; 95% CI 0.70% to 4.80%; P=0.009) and daily smokers (absolute increase: 2.43%; 95% CI 0.74% to 4.12%; P=0.005). Average past-month cigarette consumption within age groups increased immediately following the MATS by 18% (95% CI 3% to 39%; P=0.02). There was no evidence of significant increases in smoking intensity for daily or occasional smokers after release from MATS restrictions.
The study provides relevant evidence supporting the effectiveness of Canadian MATS laws for limiting smoking among tobacco-restricted youth.
最近，美国医学研究所提出，将购买/销售烟草的最低年龄提高到 21 岁可能会导致年轻人吸烟行为减少。然而，很少有研究评估最低年龄烟草限制对青少年吸烟的潜在影响。
估计加拿大烟草销售最低年龄（MATS）法律对青少年吸烟行为的影响。
使用 2000-2014 年加拿大社区健康调查的七个合并周期，采用回归不连续性设计。
年龄在 14-22 岁的调查受访者（n=98320）。
当前的加拿大 MATS 法律规定，艾伯塔省、萨斯喀彻温省、马尼托巴省、魁北克省、育空地区和西北地区的最低年龄为 18 岁，其他地区的最低年龄为 19 岁。
当前、偶尔和每日吸烟状况；吸烟频率和强度；以及平均每月香烟消耗量。
与略低于 MATS 年龄组相比，那些刚过 MATS 年龄的人，在 MATS 之后，当前吸烟者（绝对增加：2.71%；95%CI 0.70%至 4.80%；P=0.009）和每日吸烟者（绝对增加：2.43%；95%CI 0.74%至 4.12%；P=0.005）的比例显著且突然增加。年龄组内过去一个月的平均香烟消耗量在 MATS 之后立即增加了 18%（95%CI 3%至 39%；P=0.02）。在 MATS 限制解除后，没有证据表明每日或偶尔吸烟者的吸烟强度有显著增加。
该研究提供了相关证据，支持加拿大 MATS 法律在限制受烟草限制的青少年吸烟方面的有效性。
