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

Abstract #118061

Zhaohui Fan, MD, MPH and Youjie Huang, MD, MPH, DrPH. Bureau of Epidemiology, Florida Department of Health, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #A-12, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1720, 850-245-4444*2418, zhaohui_fan@doh.state.fl.us

Objectives: The minimum legal age of tobacco use in Florida is 18 years old. The laws that restrict tobacco use among youth have been enforced to ensure compliance in Florida. The purpose of this study is to illustrate the importance of reinforcing tobacco law education in reducing underage tobacco usage.

Methods: Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS) data were analyzed to examine the current situation of tobacco use among Florida's youth who were under 18 years of age, their perceptions of tobacco laws, and retailers' compliance of tobacco laws.

Results: 11.7% of Florida public middle and high school students under 18 years old were current smokers in 2004. Among them, 79.3% knew the legal age of smoking in Florida, 30.4% knew their licenses could be suspended if they are younger than 18 years old and caught with tobacco, 48.2% knew that anyone under age 18 could be punished for having tobacco products in their possession. Among underage current smokers, 13.9% got their cigarettes from an adult and 10.7% bought cigarettes from a store. For those underage current cigarette smokers who tried to buy cigarettes in a store in the past 30 days, 36.7% were asked to show proof of age, 40.1% were refused because of age, and 22.7% of them used fake ID to obtain cigarettes.

Conclusion: Underage tobacco use remains a challenge to youth tobacco control programs. Educating youth of tobacco laws to diminish their motivation to use tobacco needs to be supported by community actions.

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

• Review the current situation of underage tobacco use in Florida and the perception of tobacco laws among youth;
• Examine tobacco retailers’ compliance of tobacco laws;
• Learn the importance of reinforcing tobacco law education in reducing underage tobacco usage.

Keywords: Youth, Tobacco Policy

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.