Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #102448

Jennifer E. Kelley, MPH, CHES, CPP, Indiana University, Department of Applied Health Science, Indiana Prevention Resource Center, 2735 East Tenth Street, Creative Arts Room 110, Bloomington, IN 47408, 812-855-1237, jenkell@indiana.edu and Desiree Goetze, MPH, CPP, Tobacco Retailer Inspection Program / Indiana Prevention Resource Center, Indiana University, 2735 E. 10th Street, Rm. 110, Bloomington, IN 47408.

The proliferation of internet usage creates a growing concern that youth may have an alternative means to access tobacco products. With tobacco products, primarily cigarettes available on websites, efforts to curb adolescent access face new challenges. Federal law forbids retail outlets from selling tobacco products to minors. However, there are few measures in place to enforce this law for website-based purchases. Retail outlets are under constant pressure to verify age at the time of purchase by checking identification due to the federal SYNAR amendment. Many tobacco selling websites use self-verification, as the only method of verifying a person's age at the time of purchase. Similarly, there are few mechanisms in place to verify age at time of delivery. Parents may serve as the largest barrier for youth to receive internet packages. Unfortunately, in most cases the unmarked tobacco package is simply left on the doorstep without an adult signature required. As the internet becomes more prevalent in homes, so will youth access to website retailers. Youth accessing tobacco websites are bombarded with advertisements, anonymity, ease of purchase, and lower costs; all enticing reasons to purchase tobacco via the Internet. Legislation at the state and federal level to regulate Internet tobacco sales is being considered. Factors including state excise taxes, Indian Reservation Sovereignty, and commerce advantage are influencing court rulings and guidelines. Without increased monitoring or legislation to enforce consumer-purchasing laws the Internet may evolve into the new medium for youth to illegally access tobacco products.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Describe incidence and prevalence rates of youth access to tobacco via the Internet.
• Articulate the age verification procedures currently in practice for Internet tobacco purchases.
• Identify factors influencing legislation at the state and federal level to regulate Internet tobacco sales.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.