Just 9.9 percent of retailers sold tobacco products to underage users last year, the lowest rate ever reported and well off a peak of 40.1 percent in 1997, USA Today reported Aug. 10.

The study (PDF) by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) confirmed that all 50 states and the District of Columbia are in compliance with the so-called Synar Amendment, which ties federal aid to implementation and effective enforcement of laws against tobacco sales to minors. States that fail to comply with the Synar law can lose up to 40 percent of their federal addiction block-grant funding.

This is the third straight year that all states have been in compliance with Synar, the report noted. The data is based on unannounced inspections of retailers.