Laying down the law: Reducing illegal tobacco sales to minors in central Harlem

Objectives. This study compared the impact of educational and enforcement interventions on retailers sale of tobacco to minors in Central Harlem, New York. Methods. In randomized trial with repeated measures. 142 stores were randomly divided to control, education and enforcement groups. Results. Overall tobacco sales to 12- and 13-years-old minors at baseline (98%) were among the highest in the nation. At 6-month and 1-year follow-ups decreases in rates of tobacco sales to minors were modest among education stores and substantial among enforcement stores. Conclusions. Effective reduction of tobacco sales to minors may require ongoing enforcement measures including fines for retailers who violate states and local laws.