Abstract
Background: The objectives of this study were to document retailer opinions about tobacco control policy at the point of sale (POS) and link these opinions with store level compliance with sales and marketing provisions of the Tobacco Control Act. Methods: This study conducted interviews of 252 tobacco retailers in three counties in North Carolina and linked their opinions with in-person observational audit data of their stores' compliance with POS policies. We conducted analyses examining retailer factors associated with noncompliance using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) controlling for individual, store, neighborhood, and county factors. Results: Over 90 % of retailers support minors' access provisions and a large minority (over 40 %) support graphic warnings and promotion bans. Low levels of support were found for a potential ban on menthol cigarettes (17 %). Store noncompliance with tobacco control policies was associated with both more reported retailer barriers to compliance and less support for POS policies. Awareness of and source of information about tobacco control regulations were not associated with compliance when accounting for neighborhood and county characteristics. Conclusions: Retailers expressed some support for a wide range of POS policies. Advocates and government agencies tasked with enforcement can work with retailers as stakeholders to enhance support, mitigate barriers, and promote compliance with tobacco control efforts at the point of sale.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 884 |
| Journal | BMC Public Health |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 11 2015 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2015 Rose et al.
Funding
Funding for this study was provided by the Healthy Stores Healthy Communities Product, University Cancer Research Fund to UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC–CH and the Red Flag Merchant Education Campaign Evaluation, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement. The funders had no involvement in the study design, collection, analysis, writing, interpretation or decision to publish the results. Funding was also provided by a grant from the National Cancer Institute to Dr Ribisl — “Maximizing state and local policies to restrict tobacco marketing at point of sale”, U01CA154281. Dr. Rose also received funding dissertation funding from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Control Education Program (R25 CA57726) to support this work.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement | |
| Red Flag Merchant Education Campaign Evaluation | |
| University Cancer Research Fund | |
| National Childhood Cancer Registry – National Cancer Institute | R25CA057726, U01CA154281 |
| North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services | |
| University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
