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Abstract #151907

Robert S. Peterson Peterson, MPH and Florence Nglia Neglia, MBA. Riverside County, Department of Public Health, 4065 County Circle Dr., Riverside, CA 92354, 951 358-7162, rpeterso@co.riverside.ca.us

Sales of tobacco to minors in Riverside County was a serious public health problem with 44% of merchants surveyed in mutltiple sting operations, selling to decoys under the age of 18. In September of 2005 the Riverside County Board of Supervisors passed one of the toughest tobacco licensing ordinances in the country. Nine cities in the county have adopted licensing and nearly 1,000 tobacco retailers are now required to have a license to sell tobacco in the unincorporated areas as well as the 9 cities. Over 300 merchants have been surveyed through undercover decoy operations, and a significant decline in sales to minors has been documented. All cities that have licensing have seen a marked reduction in illegal sales by as much as 80% in some jusrisdictions. With licensing in place merchants know that if caught selling to minors the cost in losing a license is much greater than existing penal code violations that are rarely enforced.The average tobacco retailer does $30,000 per month in tobacco sales. Tobacco licensing is a serious deterrent to selling to underage minors.

Learning Objectives:

• Attendees will recognize what qualities are needed for undercover decoys in trying to purchase tobacco.
• Attendees will recognize the role law enforcement plays in deocy tobacco operations 3.Attendees will clearly be able to see the impact of local tobacco licensing on sales to minors rates. 4.Attendees will be able to articulate why licensing has a reducing impact on sales of tobacco to minors. 5.Attendees will be able to apply lessons learned in Riverside County to their jurisdictions on other parts of the country.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Tobacco Control

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.