“If you just tell me you’re 18, I’ll still sell to you”: A qualitative study of underage tobacco product purchasing experiences in a tobacco 21 compliance study

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Tyler Austin West (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Tens of thousands of underage tobacco purchase attempts are conducted each year for research, compliance, and public health surveillance. However, little research has qualitatively examined the perceptions and experiences of underage buyers for information about how to improve research and inspection protocols. We sought to understand underage buyers’ experiences and gather recommendations for protocol improvement from those conducting the purchase attempts. METHODS: We used semi-structured interviews to assess experiences with underage product purchasing. Participants (N=19, 58% male, 42% white) were data collectors age 18-20 in New Jersey (n=6), New York (n=6), or North Carolina (n=7) who were participating in a tobacco 21 policy compliance purchasing research project. Interview guides focused on experiences they encountered and how external factors like store type and location, internal factors such as race/ethnicity and gender, and training influenced their experiences. Interviews were conducted fall 2022 by a trained research assistant and transcribed. We used thematic coding with deductive and inductive codes in NVivo v.12/PC. RESULTS: We identified three overarching themes: (1) Store type matters: non-chain stores create a more unpredictable environment for buyers when compared to chain stores\; (2) data collectors experiences vary based upon identity, gender being most prominent\; (3) focusing on confidence and colloquial language to request products during training may lead to increased research validity. Buyers recommended a focus on slang, natural language, role plays, practice buys, and strategies for deflecting requests for IDs without seeming adversarial. DISCUSSION: There are discrepancies between chain and non-chain stores in their process for requesting identification. Implementation of ID scanners and vertical license orientation knowledge may increase compliance with age of sale policies. Female buyers are more subject to unwanted attention during buys, and research procedures should keep that in mind. Having confidence in ability after training and use of natural language likely change outcomes. Assessing the experiences of underage buyers on a qualitative level will strengthen research, compliance protocols, and public health surveillance related to underage access to tobacco products.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

Young Adults;Discrimination;Qualitative Research

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