Understanding how to improve the enforcement of laws that raise the legal age for tobacco sales to 21.

Evaluating implementation of Tobacco 21 laws in the U.S.

NIH-funded research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11057855

This study is looking at how well the new Tobacco 21 laws, which make it illegal for anyone under 21 to buy tobacco, are being followed and enforced, especially by stores, and it’s for anyone interested in helping reduce underage smoking in places like New Jersey, North Carolina, and Nevada.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-11057855 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the implementation of Tobacco 21 laws, which raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco products to 21 years. It aims to understand the factors that affect compliance and enforcement of these laws, particularly focusing on retailer characteristics and neighborhood influences. By utilizing established frameworks, the study will analyze how these factors contribute to underage tobacco sales and identify ways to enhance the effectiveness of the law. The research will be conducted in a longitudinal manner across tobacco retailers in New Jersey, North Carolina, and Nevada.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals and communities affected by tobacco use, particularly youth and young adults.

Not a fit: Patients who do not use tobacco products or are outside the age range of interest may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved enforcement of tobacco sales laws, ultimately reducing youth access to tobacco products.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that increasing the legal age for tobacco sales can decrease youth access and use, indicating potential success for similar approaches.

Where this research is happening

Newark, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.