College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Center for Tobacco Research, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA.
Nicotine Tob Res. 2021 Nov 5;23(12):2084-2090. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntab093.
Tobacco 21 (T21), which sets the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to age 21, is now a national law in the United States. Although T21 is expected to help curb youth tobacco use, its impact may be dampened due to poor retailer compliance. Even within environments where enforcement is strong (ie, compliance checks are conducted with tough sanctions for violations), compliance might vary due to other factors.
Three studies were conducted in Columbus, OH, where T21 became strongly enforced in 2018. These studies examined how retailer compliance related to features of the neighborhood in which a retailer was located (Study 1), features of the retailer (Study 2), and features of the retail cashier (Study 3).
Study 1 found that, after controlling for race- and age-based factors, retailers located in high (vs. low)-poverty neighborhoods had a lower likelihood of conducting identification (ID) checks. Study 2 found that ID checks were related to whether retailers displayed signage about T21, as required by the city law. Study 3 found that, among cashiers, T21 awareness (which was high) and perceptions about T21 (which were moderate) were not generally related to their retailer's compliance; having (vs. not having) scanners for ID checks was related to a higher likelihood of compliance.
These studies emphasize the many, multilevel factors influencing T21 outcomes. Findings also indicate the potential for T21 to widen disparities in tobacco use, indicating the need for strategies to equitably improve T21 compliance.
T21, which sets the minimum legal sales age for all tobacco products to age 21, is now a national law in the United States. Despite optimistic projections about what T21 could achieve, the ultimate impact may be dampened when it is applied in real-world settings. Our project revealed the many, multilevel factors influencing T21 compliance. Findings also indicate the potential for T21 to widen disparities in tobacco use if gaps in compliance persist. Strategies for equitably improving T21 compliance are discussed. This article is of relevance to areas interested in implementing or improving their local T21 enforcement.
烟草 21 岁法案（T21）将烟草销售的最低法定年龄设定为 21 岁，现已成为美国的一项全国性法律。尽管 T21 有望帮助遏制青少年使用烟草，但由于零售商合规性较差，其影响可能会减弱。即使在执法力度较强的环境中（即，对违规行为进行执法检查，并对违规行为进行严厉制裁），由于其他因素，合规性也可能存在差异。
在俄亥俄州哥伦布市进行了三项研究，T21 于 2018 年在那里得到了严格执行。这些研究考察了零售商的合规性如何与零售商所在社区的特征（研究 1）、零售商的特征（研究 2）和零售收银员的特征（研究 3）相关。
研究 1 发现，在控制了种族和年龄因素后，位于高贫困（而非低贫困）社区的零售商进行身份识别（ID）检查的可能性较低。研究 2 发现，ID 检查与零售商是否按照城市法律要求展示有关 T21 的标志有关。研究 3 发现，在收银员中，T21 意识（很高）和对 T21 的看法（中等）与他们零售商的合规性通常没有关系；拥有（而非没有）ID 检查扫描仪与合规性更高相关。
这些研究强调了影响 T21 结果的许多多层次因素。研究结果还表明，T21 有可能扩大烟草使用方面的差距，这表明需要制定策略来公平地提高 T21 的合规性。
T21 将所有烟草产品的最低法定销售年龄设定为 21 岁，现已成为美国的一项全国性法律。尽管对 T21 可能实现的目标持乐观态度，但在实际应用中，最终影响可能会减弱。我们的项目揭示了影响 T21 合规性的许多多层次因素。研究结果还表明，如果合规差距持续存在，T21 有可能扩大烟草使用方面的差距。讨论了公平提高 T21 合规性的策略。本文与有兴趣实施或改进当地 T21 执法的地区有关。
