How children get tobacco
It may seem like it’s harder than ever for children to access cigarettes and other tobacco products, but where there’s a will there’s a way.
Cigarette machines are hard to find these days and merchants are supposed to ask for proof of age, though many do not.
So where are kids getting their tobacco products? The same place they always have – from family members and friends. In fact, approximately 65% of children in all grades say that’s where they get their tobacco.
According to a study by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, students are still getting cigarettes from convenience stores and gas stations. Even though every state requires buyers to show proof of age, nearly half of students surveyed got their tobacco products from these retail outlets.
There is some good news, though. Higher taxes and higher prices have helped reduce the rate of 12th graders who smoke from 23% in 1997 to 14.5%. Another key factor is a general shift in attitude among peers. It’s no longer cool to be a smoker. In fact, 75% of high school seniors said they preferred to date someone who didn’t smoke.
One of the easiest ways to limit access is to take an active interest in your community. The harder it is to buy or get tobacco products, the less likely kids will take the habit up in the first place.
According to Lloyd D. Johnson, PhD, a research professor at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, “When society leaks like a sieve and allows kids to have access to prohibited products like cigarettes, it sends a message that we really don’t care. When you tighten up the system, it changes that message and sends the message that we take this seriously and you should, too.”
Parents who smoke can help by limiting the amount of product in their home. Having a carton of cigarettes in the cupboard is a temptation many children find hard to resist, particularly those who are under pressure from their peers. This is especially true for latch-key kids who spend a lot of unsupervised time alone at home.
Being aware of changes in your child’s behavior or hygiene can also signal a problem. The use of incense, perfumes, breath mints or gum can indicate that your child may be trying to mask the use of tobacco products. A sudden change in your child’s circle of friends can mean your child is using tobacco. The best advice is to pay attention to any changes in behavior and involve yourself in your son’s or daughter’s life.
Community activism can also curb access. Sales-to-minors legislation can only do so much. Parents need to lobby their local city councils and county commissioners to levy substantial fines on retailers who sell to minors or who don’t check ID as required by law.
“Word gets around where you can get away with buying cigarettes, either because you can use a false ID, they don’t check or they don’t care.”
