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

Objectives. This study compared the impact of educational and enforcement interventions in retailers' sale of tobacco to miners in Central Harlem, New York. Methods. Tn a randomized trial with repeated measures, 152 stores were randomly divided into control, education, and enforcement groups. Results. Overall tobacco sales to 12- and 13-year-old miners at baseline (98%) ere among the highest in the nation. At 6-month and 1-year follow-ups, decreases in rates of tobacco sales to miners were modest among education stores and substantial among enforcement stores. Conclusions. Effective reduction of tobacco sales to miners may require ongoing enforcement measures, including fines for retailers who violate state and local laws.