Friday, May 24, 1996
By Leonard Pallats
The Associated Press
ATLANTA — A government survey found that only 2 percent of
underage smokers get their cigarettes from vending machines,
suggesting a ban on them would have little effect.
"What we need is a comprehensive approach that prevents access,
reduces appeal and teaches kids the truth," said Michael Eriksen,
director of the Office on Smoking and Health at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. "Anything short of that misses the
boat."
The CDC survey of more than 1,000 smokers ages 13 to 17 showed
they had little difficulty obtaining cigarettes. All states forbid
the purchase of cigarettes by people under 18.
The 1995 survey, released Thursday, showed 39 percent of
youngsters usually bought their cigarettes at a store, 33 percent
"borrowed" them, 4 percent stole them and 16 percent said they gave
other people money to buy them. The rest said they obtained
cigarettes by other means.
President Clinton has proposed a ban on cigarette vending
machines as a way to stop youngsters from smoking.
Tom Lauria of the Tobacco Institute said the industry has
started a program that instructs store clerks on how to check IDs
and comply with state laws.
The survey also showed that smoking continues to rise among high
school students. The report said about 35 percent of high school
students said they smoked cigarettes in 1995, compared with 31
percent in 1993 and 27 percent in 1991.
Eriksen said Hollywood and cigarette marketers encourage
youngsters to start smoking. "We need to break the link between
glamour, success, slimness and smoking," he said.