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Synar Regulation Implementation: FY 97 State Compliance Section I: Program Summary February 1998

Major Findings and Activities

• All States are in material compliance with the Synar Regulation. They have laws prohibiting the sale or distribution of tobacco to minors, and they are enforcing those laws.

• The median noncompliance rate of sales to minors as reported by the States in 1997 was 40 percent. This compares favorably to pre-1997 studies that found noncompliance rates ranging from 60 to 90 percent.

• All States expect to achieve the goal of a maximum sales-to-minors rate of 20 percent by Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2003.

• To help achieve this goal, SAMHSA has produced guidance documents for each major implementation area and has provided technical assistance to States.