High rate of underage tobacco sales found in New Jersey
January 31, 2025 by medicalxpress.com
High rate of underage tobacco sales found in New Jersey
A study by Wake Forest University and Rutgers University revealed a high rate of underage tobacco sales in New Jersey, despite legislation raising the purchasing age to 21. The research showed that ID checks occurred in only 60% of attempts, with a 15% completion rate for underage sales even after checks. Electronic scanning reduced underage sales to 3.2%. Drug stores had higher ID check rates than non-chain convenience stores. The study highlights challenges in enforcing age regulations for tobacco sales, stressing the need for further research to improve compliance and prevent youth tobacco use.
