Analyzing Local Tobacco, Nutrition, & Alcohol Data to Influence Chronic Disease Prevention Advocacy and Policy Development

Addressing policies and practices that perpetuate health inequities and preventing youth initiation with tobacco in San Mateo County have become lead initiatives for chronic disease staff.  In the summer of 2013, ethnically diverse youth and young adults completed a full census data collection (599 stores) of retail establishments licensed to sell tobacco -the first of its kind in the county. Volunteers collected information on the availability, access, marketing, and pricing of tobacco products, healthy and unhealthy foods, and alcohol.  The primary collection was mandated by tobacco funding requirements, however local desire is to develop a health equities report focusing on the retail environment providing for data driven policy efforts in the future.

Results were consolidated with nutrition and alcohol data points extracted from smaller assessments. Census and education department statistics were accessed via the web.

The results show nearly 80% sell youth-friendly flavored tobacco products, 75% sell alcopops and  most stores in low income areas sell a greater variety of flavored tobacco products than fresh produce. More than half of the stores surveyed near schools placed tobacco products near candy and sugary drinks at the check-out.  There are no municipality policies in place to reduce the targeting and facilitation of youth and vulnerable populations to engage in unhealthy behaviors in the retail environment.

This analysis will be provided to the Tobacco Education Coalition, the Nutrition Education & Obesity Prevention Program, and the AOD program to derive uniform goals, objectives, and program evaluation to streamline efforts in policy advocacy.