Tobacco retail licencing systems in Europe

Abstract

Tobacco retailer licencing has been recommended as an effective tobacco control strategy. In most European countries, however, retailers do not need a licence to sell tobacco products. We aimed to stimulate a discussion on the potential for tobacco retail licencing in Europe by describing (1) potential public health benefits, (2) licencing methods and (3) barriers and success factors in adoption of licencing systems. There is limited scientific evidence, but tobacco retail licencing may reduce smoking in three ways: (1) improved enforcement of and compliance to existing point-of-sale tobacco control policies (eg, minimum age of sale), (2) a reduction in the number and/or density of tobacco retail outlets and (3) denormalisation of tobacco. Licencing systems may take diverse forms. Systems may make licences expensive, and set criteria for purchasing a licence and retaining the licence after first purchase. In Europe, licencing systems have been implemented in Finland, Hungary, France, Italy and Spain. Licencing in Finland and Hungary was adopted for public health reasons; in Finland, with strong public support. In France, Italy and Spain, tobacco sales were state-monopolised, driven by economic motives. The cases of Norway and Scotland show that adoption of retail licencing may fail when political support is insufficient and tobacco retailers organise opposition with support from the tobacco industry. In conclusion, tobacco retailer licencing is a promising method to contribute to tobacco control efforts. Placing tobacco retailer licencing in a child protection framework may help generate the strong political and public support needed to effectively adopt licencing systems.

Assessing the profile of support for potential tobacco control policies targeting availability in Great Britain: a cross-sectional population survey

“…53 54 While licensing has been considered in the UK, there are concerns that local authorities and retailers would experience unnecessary financial and administrative burden. 53 Nonetheless, our findings indicate strong majority public support for licensing, which may influence further consideration by policymakers.…”

“…A licensing scheme would require retailers to provide information for authorities to determine whether they are permitted to sell tobacco and revoke a license if products were sold to those under-age. This increased oversight is intended to reduce youth smoking prevalence by preventing illegal sales to minors,23 which has been reported in different local contexts despite existing enforcement 53 54. While licensing has been considered in the UK, there are concerns that local authorities and retailers would experience unnecessary financial and administrative burden 53.…”

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

“…The introduction of a tobacco retailer licensing system could prevent such market shift if licensing measures limit the number of tobacco outlets. Restriction in the number of outlets based on population42 or area size,19 in combination with a minimum distance between tobacco outlets43 is a promising licensing method to prevent expansion of tobacco outlets of any type 44…”

Retail endgame strategies: reduce tobacco availability and visibility and promote health equity

“…Indeed, many countries do not require tobacco retail licensing. For example, only 38 of 50 US states,86 6 of 8 Australian states and territories87 and 5 countries in the European Union (Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain)88 have established tobacco retail licensing schemes. Accurate and updated national and subnational licensing systems are greatly needed 89.…”