Tobacco 21 in Kansas: Local Efforts to Regulate Age of Smokers and Vapers Informing Policy. Improving Health. February 27, 2019
Tobacco 21 Tobacco 21 is a tobacco control Youth Smoking Prevalence Rates initiative which: (1) raises the In the last decade, minimum age of legal access smoking prevalence (MLA) for sale of tobacco rates have declined products to persons age 21 and significantly among older; and (2) reduces access of Kansas high school adolescents to tobacco products students (from 51.0 by interrupting the supply percent in 2005 to available from peers age 18–20. 26.5 percent in 2017 Raising the MLA to age 21 for ever smoked a complements other strategies cigarette; from 21.0 to reduce tobacco use, percent in 2005 to including higher tobacco taxes, 7.2 percent in 2017 strong smoke-free laws that for currently smoking include all workplaces and cigarettes; and from public places, and well-funded, 25.3 percent in 2005 to percent of high school students sustained, comprehensive 10.6 percent in 2017 for currently reported current use of cigarettes tobacco prevention and smoking either cigarettes or cigars). compared to 8.8 percent nationally, cessation programs. In 2017, the prevalence rates for and 17.1 percent reported using “Tobacco products” is defined tobacco product use for Kansas one or more tobacco products in to include cigarettes, cigars, high school students were lower Kansas compared to 19.5 percent smokeless tobacco, shisha or than national rates. In Kansas, 7.2 nationally. hookah tobacco, and electronic vapor products (including e-cigarettes, e-cigars, e-pipes, Rationale vape pipes, vaping pens, Adolescent brains have a heightened Friends and family (social sources) play e-hookahs and hookah pens). sensitivity to the rewarding effects of a central role in establishing adolescent nicotine. Approximately 54 percent tobacco use patterns. In Kansas, a of daily adult smokers are smoking statewide Tobacco 21 law would affect daily before age 18, 85 percent are nearly 250,000 Kansans age 15–20. smoking daily before age 21 and 94 Young adults age 18–20 would be percent are smoking daily before age directly affected, and adolescents age 25. If someone is not a regular smoker 15–17 might no longer have access to a by age 25, it is highly unlikely they will supply of tobacco products from their become one. peers age 18–20.
Impact on Retailers and Enforcement A study published in the American Journal of Public about the age limits from those affected and one-quarter Health estimated the economic consequences of indicated witnessing “shoulder tap” buys on a monthly implementation of Tobacco 21 policies to be a reduction basis after the Tobacco 21 policy went into effect. of approximately 2.2 percent of total tobacco sales. A study in New York City concluded that there was a A study in California found that there was a reduction in reduction in legal purchase age identification verification sales to minors when comparing pre- and post-Tobacco after adoption of Tobacco 21 policies, which might be 21 implementation. Half of retailers reported complaints improved with enforcement regulation. KHI/19-11 Kansas City, Kansas, Enforcement Study Two years after the passage of Tobacco 21 in Kansas resulted in a failure — sale to a minor under age 21. This City, Kansas, an enforcement study was conducted. Two resulted in a retailer violation rate (RVR) of 24.8 percent hundred seventy-two undercover visits were conducted at (32 out of 129 retailers). As a group, the RVR among 129 tobacco product retailers to assess the effectiveness gasoline stations with convenience stores was 34.4 of the T21 policy. Thirty-five visits among 32 retailers percent, which was the highest of all retailer types.