Snapshot of Retail Tobacco Marketing in the U.S. 2010

Audience:

Tobacco control advocates, policy makers, public health professionals, other academic and scientific professionals, as well as the general public, who are interested in the current status of tobacco retail marketing. 

Key Points:

This research examines retail tobacco marketing in food stores (supermarkets, grocery, convenience stores and gas stations, and limited service stores ) in 2010 using the observational data of a nationally representative sample collected by the Bridging the Gap project, focusing on the availability of various tobacco products, point-of-sale promotions and marketing.

Our preliminary data analysis reveals that 80% of all stores (N=2929) observed sold tobacco products, while cigarettes were ubiquitously available (99%), the majority of stores selling tobacco products also sold smokeless products (moist snuff, 72%; snus 61%; chew 61%) and other smoked tobacco products (cigars, 80%; unflavored cigarillos 80%; flavored cigarillos 78%; loose tobacco 50%).

Multi-pack discounts, coupons, special price, freebies, and mail-in promotions were observed for a selected number of products (Marlboro, Camel, Kool, and Newport cigarettes, cheapest brand, and snus). The availability of these price-related promotions varies significantly across different products.

Tobacco-related interior ads/logos were observed among 88% of stores. The majority of these ads were signs (83%) and displays (57%).35% of stores had tobacco-related ads/logos on their exteriors.

Differences in these measures by community income and race/ethnicity will be discussed.

Educational Experience:

The audiences will learn the key points through oral presentation.

Benefits:

The audience will gain understanding of the current status of tobacco retail marketing.