Tobacco retail availability and cigarette and e-cigarette use among youth and adults: a scoping review

Abstract

ObjectiveStates and localities are formulating strategies to reduce the widespread retail availability of tobacco products. Evidence of associations between retailer density/proximity and tobacco use outcomes can help inform those strategies. We conducted a scoping review on tobacco retail availability and cigarette/e-cigarette use in adults and youth, and considered variations in spatial units, measures of retailer exposure and outcomes across studies.MethodsA systematic search for studies examining the association between retailer density/proximity and youth and adult cigarette/e-cigarette use was conducted across MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science and Google Scholar through 27 August 2020 with no restrictions.ResultsThirty-five studies were included in our qualitative synthesis. While there were differences in neighbourhood definitions (eg, egocentric vs administrative), there is evidence for a positive association between higher retailer density in egocentric neighbourhoods around homes and current smoking in adults and adolescents. Administrative unit measures in some studies showed associations with adult current smoking, and adolescent lifetime and current smoking. Studies on tobacco outlet proximity to homes obtained mixed results. Density/proximity of tobacco outlets around schools showed no or inverse association with adolescent smoking, but suggests higher susceptibility to smoking. Evidence of an association between e-cigarette retail availability and e-cigarette use is limited due to a small number of studies.ConclusionThe current literature provides limited empirical evidence of the association between tobacco retailer availability and smoking or e-cigarette use. More research with uniform measures of environmental exposure to tobacco retailers is needed to allow for greater comparability between studies.

Retail-focused tobacco control: equity and endgame implications

“…19 In addition, a scoping review of 35 studies from 6 countries provides complementary evidence about retailer availability and cigarette smoking for both adults and adolescents. 20 It calls for further research regarding retailer density/proximity and ENDS use among adults and adolescents. Adding to a growing list of reasons for retailer reduction, a study from China considers the role of tobacco retailer density in increasing exposure to secondhand smoke.…”

“…Nearly half of the 17 studies in this e-issue characterise the marketing environment,16 17 the built environment18–21 or both 6 7…”

“…A meta-analysis of 27 studies from 6 countries provides the strongest evidence to date that reductions in tobacco retailer density and proximity of tobacco retailers are associated with reductions in the relative risk of adult tobacco use, even after controlling for individual-level and area-level covariates 19. In addition, a scoping review of 35 studies from 6 countries provides complementary evidence about retailer availability and cigarette smoking for both adults and adolescents 20. It calls for further research regarding retailer density/proximity and ENDS use among adults and adolescents.…”

Ex ante evaluation of the impact of tobacco control policy measures aimed at the point of sale in the Netherlands

“…It increases smoking susceptibility2 and initiation,3 4 impulse purchases5 and it may hinder smoking cessation efforts 6. Tobacco outlet availability (ie, the number, density and proximity of tobacco outlets) determines the intensity of exposure to tobacco outlets, which in turn impacts smoking behaviour, susceptibility and initiation 7–10. In addition, proximity of outlets determine the degree of access to tobacco outlets, which is negatively associated with smoking cessation success 11 12.…”

Protecting minors from tobacco products: public interest litigation enables enforcement in China

“…To reduce access to and uptake of tobacco products among minors, national laws, such as the Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Protection of Minors (LPM) and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Tobacco Monopoly (LTM), stipulate that retail stores cannot sell tobacco products near primary or secondary schools, where local governments specify the exact distance between tobacco retailers and schools. Although such a location-based sales restriction could reduce youth exposure to tobacco,1 there remains a gap in the enforcement of this law in China. In this Advocacy in Action letter, we describe compliance with LPM and LTM provisions in one district of Beijing and the subsequent public interest litigation (PIL) case which can guide future tobacco control action in China and other countries.…”