INTRODUCTION In the US, having a 21 minimum legal sales age for tobacco (T21) at the state level may have impacted age verification of cigarette and e-cigarette purchases among U.S. young adults (ages 18-26), before and/or after federal T21 implementation. AIMS AND METHODS This study examined this by analyzing data from cigarette and/or e-cigarette users (n = 618 and n = 864) in six metropolitan areas in six states. Participants reported frequency of being age verified ("almost always" vs. less frequently) for cigarette and/or e-cigarette purchases across 3 timepoints (ie, wave 1 [w1]: September-December 2018, w2: September-December 2019, and w3: September-December 2020). Multilevel modeling examined time-varying state T21 status and time (reflecting federal T21 implementation) in relation to age verification of cigarette and e-cigarette purchases, respectively. RESULTS The proportions almost always age verified for cigarette purchases in states with T21 versus without were: W1: 38.5% versus 37.7%, w2: 33.0% versus 39.1%, and w3: 45.4% versus 30.6%. For e-cigarettes, the proportions were: W1: 30.6% versus 40.3%, w2: 42.3% versus 50.5%, and w3: 56.0% versus 58.3%. In multilevel modeling, state T21 status was associated with greater likelihood of age verification for e-cigarettes (aOR = 1.67, CI = 1.13 to 2.45), but not for cigarettes. Age verification increased over time for e-cigarettes-both accounting for and not accounting for state T21 status. There were no changes for cigarettes. CONCLUSIONS State T21 status and time correlated with age verification for e-cigarettes, but not cigarettes. These self-reported age verification data contribute to evidence from compliance checks, indicating that retailers require additional prompts and enforcement to enhance compliance with T21 laws. IMPLICATIONS Current findings suggest that variations in regulations and gaps in enforcement may hinder the potential impact of increasing the minimum legal sales age, which ultimately may undermine the promise of such policies, specifically with regard to preventing tobacco use among the underage. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor retailer compliance with T21 laws and evaluate their efficacy to increase ID checks, minimize illegal sales, and curb underage use of tobacco. Relatedly, particular attention to enforcement efforts that may promote compliance is warranted.

中文翻译：

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美国联邦 T21 法实施前后的香烟和电子烟购买年龄验证率与各州 T21 法的关系。


简介 在美国，州一级规定的 21 岁烟草最低法定销售年龄 (T21) 可能会影响美国年轻人（18-26 岁）在联邦法案之前和/或之后购买卷烟和电子烟的年龄验证。 T21实施。目的和方法 本研究通过分析六个州六个大都市区的卷烟和/或电子烟使用者（n = 618 和 n = 864）的数据来对此进行检验。参与者报告了在 3 个时间点（即第 1 波 [w1]：2018 年 9 月至 12 月，w2：2019 年 9 月至 12 月， w3：2020 年 9 月至 12 月）。多级建模分别检查了随时间变化的州 T21 状态和时间（反映联邦 T21 实施情况）与卷烟和电子烟购买年龄验证的关系。结果 在有 T21 的州与没有 T21 的州，购买香烟时几乎总是经过年龄验证的比例为：W1：38.5% 与 37.7%，w2：33.0% 与 39.1%，w3：45.4% 与 30.6%。对于电子烟，比例为：W1：30.6% vs 40.3%，w2：42.3% vs 50.5%，w3：56.0% vs 58.3%。在多级模型中，状态 T21 状态与电子烟年龄验证的可能性更大相关（aOR = 1.67，CI = 1.13 至 2.45），但与香烟无关。随着时间的推移，电子烟的年龄验证不断增加——既考虑又不考虑 T21 状态。香烟没有变化。结论 国家 T21 状态和时间与电子烟的年龄验证相关，但与香烟的年龄验证无关。 这些自我报告的年龄验证数据有助于合规性检查的证据，表明零售商需要额外的提示和执行，以加强对 T21 法律的遵守。影响 目前的研究结果表明，法规的变化和执行方面的差距可能会阻碍提高最低法定销售年龄的潜在影响，这最终可能会破坏此类政策的承诺，特别是在防止未成年人吸烟方面。因此，监控零售商遵守 T21 法律并评估其在增加身份检查、最大限度地减少非法销售和遏制未成年人吸食烟草方面的功效至关重要。与此相关的是，有必要特别关注可能促进合规的执法工作。