Cigarette Sales to Minors Through Vending Machines-Reply

In Reply.—  Mr Reed has several objections to our study. First, he indicates that the 8% figure of vending machine cigarette sales that we cited is now 5%. The most recent data we have comes from the US Distribution Journal,¹ in which a tobacco industry spokesperson reports 1987 data corroborating the 8% figure. Mr Reed is quoted extensively in the article.Second, Mr Reed questions our research methods but does not explain his objections. He also takes issue with our conclusions and suggests that we have not used "long-established facts and available information." We find it interesting that Mr Reed did not respond to the facts and information found in our study. Specifically, how does he explain our findings that minors were able to purchase cigarettes from every single vending machine (30 of 30) they visited, without questions? Unlike over-the-counter sales, a comprehensive community education program did not reduce