Retail stores represent a key source of access to tobacco for minors. This presentation will introduce a new tool to help in the development of youth access policies. The chartbook is designed for policy makers, government officials, researchers, advocates and others interested in how retail environments across the Unites States approach tobacco sales. Within a sample of nationally representative communities, telephone interviews were conducted with 2,251 tobacco retail managers (18% convenience, 35% convenience/gas, 5% gas, 14% grocery, 6% supermarkets, 8% drug, 9% liquor, 2% tobacco, and 3% other) and observations were conducted in 3,022 tobacco retail outlets (10% convenience, 34% convenience/gas, 9% gas, 15% grocery, 8% supermarkets, 10% drug, 9% liquor, 2% tobacco, and 3% other). The resulting data allow a comparison of 1) various physical tobacco retail environments, and 2) the range of informal policies and practices used by tobacco retailers throughout American communities. Comparisons will be presented by census region, population density, ethnicity, age, income and other socio-demographic variables. The concept of access will be addressed through a) observational data from tobacco retailers including interior/exterior advertising density levels, product placement, promotions, functional objects, and product prices, and b) manager interview data including age verification, training programs, and store training compliance procedures. The concept of enforcement will be addressed through manager interview data on various issues, including perceptions of enforcement frequency, violation consequences, and youth purchase attempt frequency. Recommendations regarding how advocates might encourage more tobacco control-friendly retailer environments in their community will be discussed. See www.uic.edu/orgs/impacteen
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the broad range of physical environment characteristics and retailer compliance and training procedures currently found in American tobacco retail outlets. 2. Evaluate the status of a specific community, jurisdiction, or other location as compared with that of other communities across the United States. 3. Discuss with other community leaders, policy makers, researchers or advocates actions to strengthen a specified location’s tobacco enforcement and access provisions.
Keywords: Adolescents, Tobacco Policy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.