Online Program

275360
Reduced effectiveness of the age verification card system for discouraging tobacco purchase by minors in Japan


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Osamu Itani, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Yoshitaka Kaneita, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu-shi, Oita, Japan
Maki Ikeda, Ph.D., Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Shuji Kondo, M.D., Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Ryuichiro Yamamoto, Ph.D., Division of Clinical Psychology, Health Care and Special Support Graduate School of Education, Joetsu University of Education, Joetsu-shi, Niigata, Japan
Yoneatsu Osaki, M.D., Ph.D., Division of Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago-city, Tottori, Japan
Hideyuki Kanda, M.D., Ph.D., Department of epidemiology and Public Health, Graduate school of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan
Kenji Suzuki, M.D., Ph.D., Suzuki Mental Clinic, Miura-gun, Kanagawa, Japan
Susumu Higuchi, M.D., Ph.D., National Hospital Organization Kurihama Medical and Addiction Center, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa, Japan
Takashi Ohida, M.D, Ph.D., Division of Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, School of Medicine, Nihon University, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Background: In order to control the purchase of tobacco by minors from vending machines in Japan, an age verification card system (TASPO) was introduced in 2008. Objective: We investigated serial changes in the amount of tobacco purchased to determine the effectiveness of the age verification card system after performing a nationwide survey of smoking among junior and senior high school students in Japan. Methods: This survey was conducted in 2008 and 2010. We asked 98,867 junior and senior high school students, aged 13-18 years, in Japan about their smoking behavior, where they purchased cigarettes, whether they had used age verification cards, and if so, how they obtained them. Results: Comparison of the results of the 2008 and 2010 surveys indicated that the number of adolescents who bought cigarettes by unlawful use of age verification cards was on the increase. They obtained age verification cards by the following means: (1) taking one that belonged to a senior family member, (2) borrowing one from a family member, (3) borrowing one from someone other than a family member, and (4) obtaining one through the usual application procedure, of which the most-used means was (3). All of these methods were used more often in 2010 than in 2008. Conclusions: It is suggested that the age verification card system in Japan is becoming less effective at inhibiting the purchase of tobacco by minors.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the effectiveness of age verification cards for purchase of tobacco products in Japan.

Keyword(s): Tobacco Control, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified and responsible to be the author of this abstract because I am an associate researcher investigating smoking in a nationwide survey of Japanese junior and senior high school students. My scientific interest is smoking behavior in minors, and its prevention.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.