How effective do you think laws forbidding the sale of cigarettes to minors are?

Answer 1

Laws forbidding sale of tobacco products of all types, especially cigarettes, to minors are extremely effective. That is not to imply that the laws are effective at preventing minors from smoking, but as far as them buying their own cigarettes at any established business goes, the laws prevent that. As an ex-employee of more than one convenience store/gas station, I can attest to the fact that cashiers are expected to card anyone who remotely looks like they are under 18. Businesses get stiff monetary penalties for selling tobacco to minors and cashiers can lose their jobs if they do not card. The government sends people around to make sure businesses are carding, too. They aren't people who just watch, either; they are minors (usually older minors) who attempt to purchase cigarettes.

While the laws are effective at stopping the sale of cigarettes to minors, education has been effective at actually stopping minors from smoking. After all, every minor knows someone who would be willing to buy cigarettes for them, although the laws forbid that, too.