Rebecca S. Williams, MHS, School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina, 1700 Airport Road, #211a, CB# 7426, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, 919-843-9465, rebeccawilliams@unc.edu and Kurt M. Ribisl, PhD, Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Rosenau Hall CB#7400, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.

Background and Purpose: The proliferation of Internet Cigarette Vendors (ICVs) in recent years has caused concern over youth access to cigarettes through online vendors. In 2001, we found that 92% of ICVs sold cigarettes to minors, and concluded that their age verification procedures were inadequate. Since then, seven states have enacted laws designed to prevent Internet vendors from selling cigarettes to minors. This study assessed compliance with AB1830, a California law passed in 2002. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine vendor compliance with this new law. Methods: Cigarettes were purchased in California from a random sample of 102 ICVs indentified as part of another study. Data were collected about the extent to which each vendor complied with the six provisions of AB1830: 1. age verification, 2. delivery of packages only to verified billing address, 3. requiring a two or more carton minimum purchase, 4. not accepting money orders, 5. including the words “tobacco product” on credit card statements, and 6. calling buyers after 5pm to confirm orders. Results: None of the vendors in the study sample complied with all six provisions of AB1830. Although 25% of the vendors required a 2 or more carton minimum purchase and 49.5% refused to accept money orders, no vendors complied with the remaining 4 provisions of the law. Conclusions: Currently, compliance with AB1830 is extremely poor. Enforcement is needed to increase vendor compliance with this new law.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Describe the six provisions of AB1830, California's new youth access law regulating Internet cigarette vendors.
• Describe the extent to which a sample of Internet cigarette vendors complies with AB1830.
• Dicuss the implications of poor vendor compliance with AB1830 on future policy and enforcement efforts.

Keywords: Internet, Youth Access

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.