Compliance Checks Decrease Cigarette Sales Rates to Pseudo-Underaged Mystery Shoppers: A Quasi-Experimental Control Group Study

To control adherence to age limits regarding sales of tobacco products, Swedish authorities can conduct compliance checks. Compliance checks involve prior information to all retailers, mystery shopping, and subsequent feedback to the retailers. This study investigated whether compliance checks can decrease the rates of cigarette sales to underaged adolescents. Test purchases of cigarettes were conducted using pseudo-underaged mystery shoppers, i.e., 18-year-old adolescents with a younger appearance not carrying ID, to measure the refusal rate and rate of ID checks. Test purchases were conducted at 257 retail outlets in 13 municipalities in Stockholm County at baseline 2017 and follow-up 2019, respectively. In between the measurements, six municipalities (intervention area) conducted compliance checks, and seven municipalities were used as a comparison. Comparing baseline and follow-up, rates of refusal (70.4 to 95.8%) and ID checks (80.3 to 95.8%) improved in the intervention area. In the comparison area, refusal rates increased (80.9 to 85.2%), and ID check rates remained stable (at 86.1%). Significant group × time interaction effects reveal that the rates of refusal and ID checks differently changed in the study areas over time. These results indicate that compliance checks are an effective method to decrease cigarette sales to underaged adolescents.

National Enforcement of the FSPTCA at Point-of-Sale

Objective

To describe patterns in the enforcement of the US Food and Drug Administration's current compliance check program.

Methods

Data on retail violation rates (RVR) resulting from compliance checks were analyzed. Novel methods were developed to quantify violations and unify data on retail location and violation type.

Results

As of July 2013, 42 states and 3 US territories conducted compliance checks. Ninety-six percent of warning letters and 100% of Civil Monetary Penalties addressed sales to minors. RVRs varied significantly over time (OR = 1.15) and between states (ICC = 0.18).

Conclusions

The compliance checks database makes it possible to examine how retail enforcement is unfolding over time and place. Results reveal an emphasis on youth access violations, presenting opportunities for research on regulations designed to reduce youth access.