Where do chilean adolescents buy cigarettes? perceived difficulties to buy cigarettes

Access to cigarettes is a factor that has been consistently found to be associated with cigarette smoking among adolescents, therefore tobacco control policies have aimed to limit access to cigarettes among adolescents. However, some studies show that youth are able buy cigarettes. In the present study we examined if Chilean youth have found to be difficult to buy cigarettes in different places. Participants were 521 adolescents (mean age 14.26) who were part of a longitudinal study of psychosocial determinants on cigarette smoking. Parents of youth authorized their children to participate and adolescents signed an assent form. We asked if they have ever tried cigarettes, current smoking, if they had encountered problems when trying to buy in different stores. Results suggest that adolescents could buy cigarettes in small convenience stores, and had greater difficulties buying in supermarkets and gas stations. Younger adolescents perceived greater difficulties when compared with older ones (p<0.01), but continue to be able to buy cigarettes. Current smoking was associated with lower perceived difficulties. Our findings show that although legislation restrictions, Chilean adolescents continue to be able to buy cigarettes and suggest that efforts should focus in educating sellers and improve efforts to enforce current legislation that prohibits selling cigarettes to minors.