7/1/2013
Fewer than one in six 13-to-16-year-olds (13%) can purchase M-rated video games, which require the purchaser to be over 17, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Meanwhile, one in four teens (24%) are able to purchase tickets to R-rated movies, the lowest percentage since the FTC began its mystery shop program in 2000. Three in 10 teens (30%) are able to purchase R-rated DVDs, down from 38% in 2010, and 30% are able to purchase unrated DVDs, down from 33% in 2000.
Less than half of teens (47%) are able to purchase music CDs with the parental advisory label, down from 64% in 2010.
Among retailers, AMC Entertainment turns away 95% of teens trying to buy tickets to an R-rated movie, whereas Cinemark turns away 74% and National Amusement turns away 60% of underage buyers.
Blockbuster, Best Buy, Walmart, and Kmart deny more than 75% of underage DVD buyers. Conversely, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Transworld are more lax in their sales of R-rated DVDs to underage shoppers.
However, while Barnes & Noble allows 48% of underage shoppers to purchase R-rated DVDs, the retailer only allows 14% to purchase unrated DVDs. Walmart allows 22% to purchase R-rated DVDs but 33% to buy unrated DVDs.
Retailers do the best job of restricting sales of parental advisory label music and video games. All retailers deny sales to half or more of teen shoppers.
SOURCE: Federal Trade Commission, Betsy Lordan, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, DC 20580; 202-326-3707; blordan@ftc.gov; www.ftc.gov.
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