Skip to main content
Log in

Evaluating the effects of a community coalition's efforts to reduce illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco products to minors

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Minors' access to alcohol and tobacco is a major public health concern because of the many deaths and disabilities associated with use and the ease with which minors purchase these products. We evaluated the effects of a community-based substance abuse coalition's efforts to reduce alcohol and tobacco products to minors. The intervention —implemented entirely by coalition members—consisted of adults and minors issuing citations to clerks in supermarkets, convenience stores and liquor stores, who were willing to sell alcohol and tobacco products to minors and issuing commendations to clerks who refused to sell. For those liquor stores receiving the citizen's surveillance, there was a marked decrease in alcohol sales to minors, from 83% to 33%; and in those liquor stores not experiencing the intervention, there was a smaller decrease in alcohol sales, from 45% to 36%. This study's findings suggest that citizen surveillance and feedback may be effective in reducing alcohol sales to minors when the intervention is fully implemented, but may be ineffective, at least in these doses, with tobacco sales.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hoppock K and Houston TC. Availability of tobacco products to minors.The J Fam Practice 1990; 30:174–176.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Preusser DF and Williams AF. Sales of alcohol to underage purchasers in three New York counties and Washington, D.C.J Pub Health Policy 1992; 13:306–317.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Erickson A, Woodruff S., Wildey M., and Kenney E. A baseline assessment of cigarette sales to minors in San Diego, California.J Com Health 1993; 18, 213–224.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Altman D., Foster V., Rasenick-Douss L., and Tye J. Reducing the illegal sale of cigarettes to minors.JAMA 1989; 261:80–83.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Keay K., Woodruff S., Wildey M., and Kenney E.: Effect of a retailer intervention on cigarette sales to minors in San Diego, California.Tob Cont 1993; 2:145–151.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Cook T. and Campbell D.Quasi-experimentation: Design & analysis issues for field settings. Dallas: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979, pp. 99–103.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Centers for Disease Control. Minor's access to tobacco—Missouri, 1992, and Texas, 1993.MMWR 1993; 42:125–128.

  8. Fawcett SB., Paine AL., Francisco VT., and Vliet M. Promoting health through community development. In DS. Glenwick and LA. Jason (Eds.).Promoting health and mental health in children, youth, and families. New York: Springer Publishing, 1993, pp. 233–255.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Centers for Disease Control. A framework for assessing the effectiveness of disease and injury prevention.MMWR 1992; 41:(RR-3), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewis, R.K., Paine-Andrews, A., Fawcett, S.B. et al. Evaluating the effects of a community coalition's efforts to reduce illegal sales of alcohol and tobacco products to minors. J Community Health 21, 429–436 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01702603

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01702603

Keywords

Navigation