Effects of a Youth-Engaging Intervention on Illegal Sales by Tobacco Retailers Near Schools in Thailand. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phetphum, Chakkraphan; Noosorn, Narongsak
• Is Part Of: Asia-Pacific journal of public health. Volume 32:Number 6/7(2020)
• Page Start: 340
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: illegal sale -- tobacco control -- tobacco retailer -- youth engagement -- action research; Public health -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Public health -- Asia -- Periodicals; 362.1095
• DOI: 10.1177/1010539520942686
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1010-5395

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of youth-engaging interventions on illegal sales by tobacco retailers near schools in Thailand. The youth were educated and engaged in the planning and implementation of a program to reduce tobacco retailers' illegal sales in the Uttaradit Municipality, Thailand. Intervention components included community education, retailer education, and direct approaches to tobacco retailers. A study included a pretest-posttest control group. The 6-month intervention focused on 114 tobacco retailers. The posttest showed that the percentage of tobacco retailers violating the retail law decreased: tobacco product displays at points of sales decreased from 67.5% to 23.7%, single cigarette sales declined from 71.1% to 36.0%, and tobacco sales to minors decreased from 74.6% to 5.3%. Asking for identification or the buyer's age before selling tobacco increased from 33.3% to 78.1%. The intervention led to a significant reduction in the violation of tobacco retail laws near schools.