Retailers continue to abate sales ...

Retailers continue to abate sales of tobacco to children younger than 18 years, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The national retailer violation rate dropp to 120 percent in reports submitted by dint of states in 2005, down from 128 percent reported in 2004 and 401 percent since the annual tobacco retailer inspections began in 1996 The flows of the most recent review of inspections show that each state except Kansas achieved the legislative goal of retailer sales of cigarettes to minors of no more than 20 percent Kansas is committing additional state supplys for tobacco enforcement as an alternative to losing part of its SAMHSA form grant funding, as specified in the law. In addition, 41 states achieved a retailer violation of no more than 15 percent In 21 states, the retailer violation rate was 10 percent or below. The findings are based upon reports submitted by states in answer to federal law established in 1992 restricting access to tobacco according to children younger than 18 years. The retailer violation rate is based forward unannounced state inspections of cigarette retailers.

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

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