Impact of Total Vending Machine Restrictions on US Young Adult Smoking

Conclusions:
Total vending machine restrictions appear to be an effective, yet highly underutilized, means of tobacco control.

Implications:
Past scientific inquiries examining vending machine restrictions have focused upon minor access, adolescent perceptions of availability, and subsequent smoking. The potential for total vending machine restrictions, which extend to adult-only facilities, to influence patterns of smoking among those of legal age, remains significant. Those who are subject to total vending machine restrictions for longer periods are less likely to have recently smoked, but individuals do not change their smoking behavior in response to the passage of a restriction. These restrictions do not affect heavy smokers. Such policies are an effective but underutilized policy mechanism to prevent smoking among young adults.

Source: Nicotine and Tobacco Research - October 7, 2016 Category: Addiction Authors: Vuolo, M., Kelly, B. C., Kadowaki, J. Tags: Original Investigation Source Type: research