Elsevier

Health & Place

Volume 23, September 2013, Pages 165-170
Health & Place

Characteristics of tobacco retailers in New Zealand

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.07.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Using data on known tobacco outlets throughout NZ, GIS was used to map outlets, deprivation and secondary schools. A total of 5008 tobacco outlets were identified, giving a density of one outlet per 617 people or one outlet per 129 smokers. One-half of secondary schools had an outlet within 500 m. Tobacco outlets were more densely located in areas of higher socioeconomic deprivation. One third of all tobacco outlets had a licence to sell alcohol. This study indicates the widespread retail availability of tobacco and the need for a mandatory system of registration for better enforcement of smokefree legislation.

Introduction

Many countries, including New Zealand (NZ), have adopted tobacco control policies that restrict tobacco marketing and smoking in work spaces, that mandate health warnings on cigarette packaging, and ensure the availability of smoking cessation services (Edwards et al., 2011, Henriksen, 2012). It has recently been suggested that tobacco control policies should be broadened to reduce the supply and availability of tobacco products (Edwards et al., 2011, Henriksen, 2012). The widespread retail availability of tobacco represents a major form of tobacco promotion, particularly in countries that restrict other forms of tobacco industry marketing (Paul et al., 2010).

In 2011, in response to an inquiry on tobacco use in NZ by the Māori Affairs Select Committee (2010), the government launched a goal to make the nation smokefree by 2025 (New Zealand Government, 2011). As part of this inquiry, the Māori Affairs Select Committee recommended that the government consider reducing the number of tobacco retail outlets, and investigate giving local authorities the power to control the number and location of tobacco retail outlets (Māori Affairs Select Committee, 2010). No licence or registration is required to be able to sell tobacco in NZ: any type of outlet is permitted to retail tobacco, and tobacco products are also available at many non-retail premises, such as alcohol-licensed premises, sporting and social clubs. By contrast, access to alcohol in NZ is regulated through a licensing system overseen by the national Liquor Licensing Authority and managed by local government agencies (District Licensing Agencies). Alcohol-licensed premises are required to complete host responsibility training, and legislation prohibits the sale of alcohol in certain types of outlet such as dairies (small convenience stores or corner shops) and service stations.

Evidence from the United States suggests that a greater density of tobacco retail outlets in a neighbourhood is associated with higher rates of smoking amongst both adults (Chuang et al., 2005) and youth (Lipperman-Kreda et al., 2012, Novak et al., 2006). While this research is cross-sectional and therefore does not tell us about the direction of causation, it is plausible that the tobacco retail supply may influence smoking rates. Higher tobacco outlet density might be associated with higher smoking prevalence including greater exposure to cigarette advertising (Henriksen et al., 2008, Henriksen et al., 2010), promoting relapse (Hoek et al., 2010, Reitzel et al., 2011), and the creation of a more competitive local market, possibly driving cigarette prices down (McCarthy et al., 2011, Scollo et al., 2000), and increasing sales to minors (Leatherdale and Strath, 2007). The only study from NZ to examine this issue showed inconclusive results, and has limitations insofar as only access to supermarkets and convenience stores was examined (Pearce et al., 2009).

Overseas studies indicate that vulnerable population groups may be exposed to the retail availability of tobacco to a greater extent. The density of tobacco retail outlets tends to be higher in areas of socioeconomic deprivation (Henriksen et al., 2008, Novak et al., 2006, Pearce et al., 2007, Yu et al., 2010) and this may contribute to the trend for higher smoking prevalence amongst socioeconomically disadvantaged groups (Henriksen, 2012, Ministry of Health,). The density of retailers is also higher in areas where a larger proportion of the population are younger than 18 years old (Novak et al., 2006), which is a concern given that the risks of initiation of tobacco use and transitions to daily use are greatest amongst younger people. A higher density of tobacco retail outlets around a school is associated with higher levels of experimental smoking (Henriksen et al., 2008, McCarthy et al., 2009) and greater reported ease of purchasing cigarettes (Leatherdale and Strath, 2007) amongst school's students. Tobacco products are also commonly sold at locations where alcohol is consumed, such as pubs, bars and nightclubs (Paul et al., 2010). This is a concern given that many smokers report a tendency to smoke more at licensed premises when cigarettes are available for purchase (Paul et al., 2010).

A system of licensing or registering tobacco retailers, similar to those implemented in some jurisdictions in the United States, Canada and Australia, is a mechanism which could enable the number and location of tobacco retailers to be managed by local government. In addition, a licensing system may enable stricter enforcement of legislation prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors and of restrictions on point-of-sale tobacco displays. The retail availability of tobacco is an area that has not been well researched, and there are no published data describing the type of outlets where tobacco is available for purchase in NZ. The distribution of supermarkets and convenience stores according to neighbourhood socioeconomic deprivation has previously been studied in NZ, though this study did not include the full range of retail premises where tobacco is sold (e.g. on-licensed premises, liquor stores and cafes) in their analysis (Pearce et al., 2007). The purpose of the present study is to describe the number and types of tobacco retail outlets throughout NZ, to examine how Smokefree Enforcement Officers (SEOs) identify tobacco retailers in their local areas, and to examine the distribution of outlets according to neighbourhood deprivation, their proximity to secondary schools, and the extent to which tobacco is sold alongside alcohol.

Section snippets

Identification of known tobacco retail outlets

There is no available list or register of every tobacco retail outlet in NZ. The names and physical addresses of known tobacco retail outlets were obtained by contacting SEOs at each District Health Board (DHB) in NZ between March and May 2012. Smokefree Enforcement Officers are government employees with statutory powers who are responsible for enforcing smokefree legislation, including restrictions on sales to minors and on point of sale displays (New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office, 2003

Number, type and population density of tobacco retail outlets

Data on known tobacco retail outlets were provided for 19 of the 20 DHBs; one DHB declined to participate. A total of 5008 tobacco retail outlets were identified. The initial database comprised 5705 tobacco retail outlets, 697 were excluded as they were either duplicate listings, or their physical address and/or outlet name (hence the retail category) was incomplete, invalid or unable to be verified. The population of residents aged 15 years and above in NZ at the last census (2006) was

Discussion

This study sought to describe the number and types of outlets where tobacco could be purchased in NZ, and to examine their distribution according to neighbourhood deprivation and proximity to secondary schools. We also aimed to estimate the extent to which tobacco products were sold alongside alcohol. This research identified approximately 5000 tobacco retail outlets, which equates to approximately one outlet per 617 adults, and one outlet per 129 adult smokers in NZ. The most prevalent types

Acknowledgements

The researchers wish to acknowledge the assistance of Smokefree Enforcement Officers at the District Health Boards who provided information on the addresses of tobacco retailers in their area. We thank Professors Richard Edwards and Rob McGee and Dr. Claire Cameron for helpful comments on the manuscript.

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