Problem/Objective: Gathering local information about tobacco enforcement activities is a crucial part of tobacco control programs. Paper forms are likely to include many errors and limit the effectiveness of any effort.

Methods: The Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program (MTCP) has developed a comprehensive web-based Retail Data Management System (RDMS). RDMS is a joint effort with the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. Using a handheld device or computer that accesses a website, local programs can retrieve historic store data, enter compliance check data, enter retail store/signage inspection results, and track enforcement activities. RDMS reminds local programs to issue warnings/tickets, ensure that fines are paid, and reminds programs to do appropriate follow up enforcement.

Results: The RDMS provides useful and easily accessible data to the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program and local community programs. Local programs can now create routes within the RDMS complete with maps to show where tobacco retailers are located. Reports that summarize tobacco sales trends on the state and local levels can be created with the click of a button, showing such useful data as sales rate by type of store, sales rate by age/gender of clerk, sales rate by day of the week, and much more.

Conclusions: RDMS allows the Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program to maintain comprehensive data records on all tobacco retailers throughout the Commonwealth and to track in “real time” where youth access issues exist. RDMS allows MTCP to create data maps, which help to identify areas with high sales to minors and allow us to focus our youth access prevention efforts in those areas.