BACKGROUND: In most countries, tobacco products are widely sold alongside necessities such as food and petrol. However, some countries, such as the Netherlands, have restricted the type of retail outlets that can sell tobacco. We measured support amongst people who smoke and/or vape, or have recently quit smoking and don’t vape, for ending smoked tobacco product sales in certain types of retail outlets.
METHODS: We analysed data from the 2022 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey that included 4108 adults who exclusively smoke cigarettes (n=1842), exclusively vape (n=470), smoke and vape (n=1225), or have recently quit smoking and don’t vape (n=571) in England (n=1111), Canada (n=1085), Australia (n=794), and the US (n=1118). Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the association between country and smoking/vaping status and support for laws ending sales of smoked tobacco products in a) convenience stores, local shops, gas/petrol stations, and b) supermarkets.
RESULTS: Across countries, about one third supported ending the sale of tobacco products from convenience stores and petrol stations (30.6%) and supermarkets (33.9%), with country-differences (p<0.001). The US had the lowest level of support for ending sales in convenience stores and petrol stations (US 21.9%, Canada 35.9%, England 33.9%, Australia 30.9%). For supermarkets, support was lowest in US (28.5%) and highest in Canada (46.3%). Tobacco and vaping product use status was associated with support for ending sales in the different outlets, with daily smoking associated with the least support, as expected. Country level differences remained significant after controlling for socio-demographics and smoking status (p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: A substantial minority of the study sample in all four countries supported ending the sale of cigarettes in convenience stores, gas/petrol stations and supermarkets. Qualitative research could explore reasons for country-level differences in support and inform targeted communication strategies if the policy was introduced in these countries.