Tobacco Documents Online

SMOKING~ HEALTH AND CIGARETTE VENDING The discussion on smoking and health has intensified in recent months. Those who contend that smoking is dangerous to health have tried to convince cigarette smokers to stop smoking through various means, including warning labels on cigarette packs and ever increasing cigarette excise taxes. The net result of these effo~s has, on the whole, been disappointing to those who oppose smoking. Consequently, special attention is being aimed at teenagers to dis - courage them from starting to smoke. Programs to accomplish this have included a few attempts to restrict the placement and use of cigarette vending machine s. Vendinq Machines Falsely Accused .. Those who have advocated legislative restrictions on cigarette ven.ding machines argue that they are a major source of cigarettes for minors. The idea is that since the machine cannot distinguish between adults and teenagers, cigarette vending machines must be a major source of cigarettes for teenagers thus circumventing state laws which prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors. This argument ignores the facts. It will be recognized as being illogical by anyone who understands the role of vending as a method of retailing cigarettes. Here are the facts. T105390090

-2- Facts About Teenage Smoking And 8ource Of Cigarettes The facts about actual teenage purchasing and smoking habits quickly disprove the idea that vending might be a source of cigarettes for minors. Current studies published by the U.S. Government show that ** * only 2 out of I0 teenagers smoke * only 1 out of 10 teenage smokers purchases cigarettes * over 97% of teenage smokers do no._.~.t buy from vending machines. ~Vhether parents smoke is the most important influence on teenagers' smoking. 1974 U.S. Government research found that when both parents smoke, teenagers are twice as likely to smoke as ~vhen neither parent smokes. The extensive literature of behavioral research on file at the Center For Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia reveals that parental and sibling smoking habits, teenage peers' influence and the desire to appear adult are the important factors in creating the smoking habit of teenagers. The Six-Step Self-Regulation Proqram For Vending The vending industry has long recognized its responsibility to prevent minors' purchasing cigarettes from vending machines. The vending operator, aware of the laws which prohibit sales of cigarettes to minors, has long conducted his business under an industry Code of Self-Regulation designed to make sure cigarette vending machines are not a source of cigarettes for minors. Here is a brief statement of the ~ix-~tep Self-Regulati0n Program by vending companies: ** details available from National Automatic Merchandising Association T!05390091

Q Survey the entire cigarette operation to determine the location of those machines to which minors are likely to have access. As part of this survey maintain a permanent file record for each machine location. Post "Minors Are Forbidden" decals conspicuously on all machines. Post on each machine the name, address, and phone number of the operator. Solicit the location owner's cooperation to prevent minors from purchasing from machines to which minors have access. Reposition machines, where necessary, to assure adequate supervision. Remove machines from locations where the sale of cigarettes to minors cannot be prevented. Cooperate with competitors to achieve area-wide compliance of preventing the purchase of cigarettes by minors from vending machines. (As part of this step, establish local group liaison with police officials and offer cooperation in the enforcement of "sales to minors" laws). Conclu sion Accusations against cigarette vending machines related to teenage smoking have no basis in fact. The vending industry continues to recognize its responsibilities through self-regulation (even though few teenagers actually purchase cigarettes from vending machines). It stands ready to cooperate with all groups to make sure that its record of responsible conduct and compliance with established law~ is maintained in fact and in spirit. This statement was compiled by the National Automatic Merchandising Association 7 South Dearborn Street Ohicago, Illinois 60603 Ti05390092