Has point-of-sale legislation led to a reduction in exposure to tobacco retailing?

Citation

Pearce J, Cherrie M, Best C, Eadie D, Stead M, Amos A, MacGregor A, Currie D, Ozakinci G & Haw S (2018) Has point-of-sale legislation led to a reduction in exposure to tobacco retailing?. 11th European Public Health Conference - Winds of change: towards new ways of improving public health in Europe, Ljubljana. European Journal of Public Health, 28, pp. 69-70.

Abstract
Background: Reducing tobacco availability of is considered the ‘next frontier’ in tobacco control. This paper examines change in exposure to tobacco retailing in Scotland before and after the introduction of legislation removing Point of Sale (POS) tobacco displays. Methods: Data from a national tobacco register were combined with information from retail audits and school surveys in 4 communities. Time trends in tobacco retailer density were analysed at the national, regional and neighbourhood level from 2012-17. Neighbourhood trends were stratified by neighbourhood deprivation and urbanity. Discreet audits of retail outlets across the 4 study communities (n = 95 in 2013; n = 93 in 2017) were conducted to assess store-level tobacco storage and product visibility pre- and post-implementation. 4 visibility variables were constructed: external storage visibility, internal storage visibility, total storage visibility, & total product visibility. A longitudinal survey (2013-2017) of school children in the 4 communities enabled residential and route to school measures of tobacco retailer density for 5,527 children aged 12-17. Individual trends were stratified by deprivation, urbanity and participant’s socioeconomic status. Results: Retail provision of tobacco declined following the introduction of POS legislation. However, there were strong geographic differences; 1/5 of local authorities, and urban, deprived neighbourhoods have increased provision since 2015. In the 4 communities, tobacco availability was generally stable over the study period. Although visibility of tobacco products reduced for children living in the 4 communities due to compliance with the legislation, there is growing socioeconomic disparity in tobacco availability and the visibility of tobacco storage. Conclusions: The POS ban has successfully reduced exposure to tobacco products in communities in Scotland. However, there is growing socioeconomic disparity in the availability and visibility of tobacco.

Journal
European Journal of Public Health: Volume 28