| Summary: | Background
Reducing
youth smoking uptake is a key goal of tobacco control. Article 16 of the FCTC requires
governments to prohibit tobacco sales to minors, yet young people continue to
access cigarettes despite widely adopted legislation on minimum age of sale. This
qualitative study explores the experiences of young people in Europe in
accessing cigarettes.
Methods
Over 50 focus groups were carried out with 15-17
year olds in seven countries across Europe (Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland,
Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal). Most participants were 15, and all were below the
legal age of sale in their country. Focus groups were conducted in the dominant
national language and recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Data
were analysed to identify key themes in young people's accounts of how they and
their peers source cigarettes.
Results
Ability to access cigarettes was reported in all
focus groups. Sources included direct purchase (from shops, vending machines, bars/cafes);
proxy purchase (where an older person buys on their behalf); and reciprocal
peer sharing arrangements. Participants' accounts indicate that social capital
is an important resource in accessing cigarettes across all countries, with
young people frequently asking older acquaintances or siblings to purchase for
them. Social and cultural capital are also important in the (less common) use
of strangers, which required a sophisticated understanding of how to recognise potential
proxy buyers. Commercial sources of cigarettes varied by country, with shops
(particularly small retailers) more important in some countries (eg Ireland),
while vending machines were more commonly used in others (eg Portugal).
Conclusions
The effectiveness of tobacco sale age
restrictions is influenced by broader aspects of the tobacco environment, including
social norms and material access to less regulated outlets. Under-age smokers
draw on different forms of capital to circumnavigate these legal restrictions, highlighting
the importance of a multi-dimensional approach to youth smoking prevention.
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