Editor,—In Mexico approximately 9% of smokers are aged between 12–17 years, and from 1988 to 1998 the prevalence of current smoking among minors increased from 7.7% to 11.6%.1-3 Data from the National Addictions Survey (NAS-98) indicate that 61.4% of adult smokers in Mexico became regular smokers before the age of 18.4 5

We sought to assess compliance with the law forbidding sale of tobacco products to minors in two Mexican cities (Mexico City and Ciudad Juárez).6 Compliance monitoring teams were formed, consisting of an adult and two minors. The minors were of both sexes, trained before the start of the study. The adult in each team served …