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Facts About Access to Tobacco By Minors
In the United States, it is now illegal to sell tobacco products to persons under age 18. Worldwide approximately 25 countries have established laws to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to minors. The reality, however, is that in many countries children and adolescents have easy access to tobacco products. Tobacco use usually begins before age 18. As part of comprehensive programs to prevent future tobacco addiction and smoking-related diseases and deaths, existing minors' access laws should be enforced, and, in countries without existing laws, new laws should be enacted.
Worldwide Tobacco Situation
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are about 1.1 billion smokers in the world, about one-third of the global population aged 15 years and older. Of these, 500 million (the equivalent of ten times the total of all deaths in World War II) will be killed by tobacco if current patterns of smoking continue. Half of these (about the population of the United States) will die at middle age-losing an average 20 to 25 years of life.
Mexico Steps Forward
Mexico has taken a crucial step in addressing tobacco use within its own national borders by conducting its first assessment of minors' access to commercial sources of tobacco. The survey is the first step in beginning to address the World Health Organization's four recommendations regarding decreasing sales to minors. This survey by the Mexican Secretariat of Health should encourage other countries, many of which have not yet conducted their own minors' access surveys, to begin this process.
Youth Access United States
In the United States, more than 80% of persons who have ever tried a cigarette, smoked their first cigarette before age 18. After years of remaining steady, teen smoking rates have increased each year since 1992. In 1996, 22.2 percent of high school seniors smoked daily-up from 17.2 percent in 1992. Between 1991 and 1996, past-month smoking increased from 14.3 percent to 21.0 percent among eighth graders and from 20.8 percent to 30.4 percent among tenth graders.
In 1995, approximately 57 percent of students in grades 9-12 who currently smoked usually bought their cigarettes from a retail store, from a vending machine, or through another person who purchased cigarettes for them.
Synar Amendment
The Synar Amendment is a Federal Law enacted in July 1992. It requires states to enact and enforce laws restricting the sale and distribution of tobacco products to youth under the age of 18. States are required to reduce the illegal sales rates to minors to no more than 20 percent within several years.
Food and Drug Administration Regulations
FDA rules are designed to make it more difficult for minors to purchase tobacco products and will also reduce the appeal of these products to children under 18. The Rule reduces youth access by: requiring age verification by photo ID for anyone under the age of 27 purchasing tobacco products and banning vending machines and self-service displays except in "adults only" facilities where children are not allowed, such as certain nightclubs totally inaccessible to anyone under 18.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Office of Communication
Division of Media Relations
Atlanta, GA
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