Abstract
Introduction
Political acceptability and successful implementation of tobacco control policies at the point of sale may depend on, among other factors, tobacco retailers’ level of support for these policies. This study quantified the level of support among small tobacco retailers for four point-of-sale tobacco control policies and its association with three predictors.
Methods
We used cross-sectional telephone survey data (August 2019) of 508 small tobacco retailers in England. Weighted logistic regression analyses examined associations between support for the product display ban, price display ban, minimum pack size, and standardised packaging, and self-reported importance of tobacco sales for business, contact with the tobacco industry, and the perceived impact of the policy on their overall business.
Results
A majority of retailers support minimum pack size (66%), product display ban (65%), price display ban (54%), and standardised packaging (55%). Importance of tobacco sales was not associated with support for the policies. More frequent contact with the tobacco industry was associated with higher odds of support for minimum pack size (OR:2.01,95%CI:1.25-3.21), but not with the other three policies. Negative perceived impact of the policies, compared with neutral, was associated with 1.5 to three times lower odds of support for all four policies.
Conclusion
In England, small retailers’ support for the four point-of-sale tobacco control policies varied between 54-66%. Support seems unrelated to perceived importance of tobacco sales, and contact with the tobacco industry, but seems strongly related to the perceived impact of tobacco control policies on their business.
Implications
This study shows that small independent retailers’ support for point-of-sale (PoS) tobacco control policies is fairly high and that the lack of support voiced by retail trade organisations are not representative of the views of retailers in England. Support rates may be further improved by addressing retailers’ perceptions of the impact of policies on their business. Support was not related to retailers’ perceived importance of tobacco sales for their business and their contact with the tobacco industry. The industry rhetoric is not supported by our findings, as the majority of small independent retailers in England support tobacco control regulations.
Political acceptability and successful implementation of tobacco control policies at the point of sale may depend on, among other factors, tobacco retailers’ level of support for these policies. This study quantified the level of support among small tobacco retailers for four point-of-sale tobacco control policies and its association with three predictors.
Methods
We used cross-sectional telephone survey data (August 2019) of 508 small tobacco retailers in England. Weighted logistic regression analyses examined associations between support for the product display ban, price display ban, minimum pack size, and standardised packaging, and self-reported importance of tobacco sales for business, contact with the tobacco industry, and the perceived impact of the policy on their overall business.
Results
A majority of retailers support minimum pack size (66%), product display ban (65%), price display ban (54%), and standardised packaging (55%). Importance of tobacco sales was not associated with support for the policies. More frequent contact with the tobacco industry was associated with higher odds of support for minimum pack size (OR:2.01,95%CI:1.25-3.21), but not with the other three policies. Negative perceived impact of the policies, compared with neutral, was associated with 1.5 to three times lower odds of support for all four policies.
Conclusion
In England, small retailers’ support for the four point-of-sale tobacco control policies varied between 54-66%. Support seems unrelated to perceived importance of tobacco sales, and contact with the tobacco industry, but seems strongly related to the perceived impact of tobacco control policies on their business.
Implications
This study shows that small independent retailers’ support for point-of-sale (PoS) tobacco control policies is fairly high and that the lack of support voiced by retail trade organisations are not representative of the views of retailers in England. Support rates may be further improved by addressing retailers’ perceptions of the impact of policies on their business. Support was not related to retailers’ perceived importance of tobacco sales for their business and their contact with the tobacco industry. The industry rhetoric is not supported by our findings, as the majority of small independent retailers in England support tobacco control regulations.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Nicotine and Tobacco Research |
| Publication status | Published - 30 Nov 2021 |