Point-of-Sale E-cigarette Advertising Among Tobacco Stores

Abstract Introduction Cue-reactivity theory suggests that smoking-related visual cues such as point-of-sale (POS) marketing (eg, advertising, product displays) may undermine cessation attempts by causing an increase in nicotine cravings among users. This study examined the relationship between recall of exposure to POS marketing and subsequent cessation behaviors among young adult cigarette smokers. Methods Participants included 813, 18–29 year old (m = 21.1, SD = 2.70), current cigarette smokers attending 24 Texas colleges. Multivariable logistic regression models examined the impact of baseline self-reported exposure to cigarette and e-cigarette advertising and product displays, on using e-cigarettes for cessation and successful cigarette cessation at 6-month follow-up. Two-way interactions between product-specific advertising and between product-specific displays were examined to determine if the marketing of one product strengthened the cue reactivity of the other. Baseline covariates included sociodemographic factors, past quit attempts, intentions to quit smoking, and nicotine dependence. Results Exposure to e-cigarette displays was associated with lower odds of cigarette smoking cessation, controlling for covariates and conventional cigarette display exposure. E-cigarette advertising was positively associated with the use of e-cigarettes for cigarette cessation among participants exposed to low (ie, at least 1 SD below the mean) levels of cigarette advertising. Cigarette advertising was associated with the use of e-cigarettes for cigarette cessation only among those exposed to low levels of e-cigarette advertising. Exposure to cigarette displays was not associated with either outcome. Conclusion Smoking-related cues at POS may undermine successful cigarette cessation. Exposure to product displays decrease odds of cessation. Advertising exposure increased odds for using e-cigarettes for cessation attempts, but may have guided smokers towards an unproven cessation aid. Implications By examining the interaction of conventional cigarette and e-cigarette marketing exposure, this study adds a unique insight into the impact of retail tobacco marketing on cigarette smoking cessation behavior among young adults. These findings suggest that policies that balance encouraging cigarette smoking cessation while limiting marketing strategies should be considered, such as POS product displays, that may undermine successful cessation attempts.

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The Association of Point-of-Sale E-cigarette Advertising with Socio-Demographic Characteristics of Neighborhoods

The Journal of Primary Prevention ◽

10.1007/s10935-018-0506-y ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 191-203 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Neng Wan ◽

Mohammad Siahpush ◽

Raees A. Shaikh ◽

Molly McCarthy ◽

Athena Ramos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Demographic Characteristics ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Cigarette Advertising

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Cross-country comparison of cigarette and vaping product marketing exposure and use: findings from 2016 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2018-054650 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2018-054650 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yoo Jin Cho ◽

James Thrasher ◽

Michael Cummings ◽

Hua H Yong ◽

Sara C Hitchman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

Multiple Covariates ◽

The Usa ◽

Product Marketing ◽

Advertising Exposure ◽

Research And Policy ◽

Country Specific

ObjectiveTo compare exposure to and use of certain cigarette and vaping product marketing among adult smokers and vapers in four countries with contrasting regulations—Australia (AU), Canada, England and the USA.Data sourcesAdult smokers and vapers (n=12 294) from the 2016 International Tobacco Control (ITC) Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (4CV1).AnalysisSelf-reported exposure to cigarette and vaping product advertising through point-of-sale, websites/social media, emails/texts, as well as exposure to and use of price offers were assessed for country differences using logistic regression models adjusted for multiple covariates.ResultsReported exposure to cigarette advertising exposure at point-of-sale was higher in the USA (52.1%) than in AU, Canada and England (10.5%–18.5%). Exposure to cigarette advertising on websites/social media and emails/texts was low overall (1.5%–10.4%). Reported exposure to vaping ads at point-of-sale was higher in England (49.3%) and USA (45.9%) than in Canada (32.5%), but vaping ad exposure on websites/social media in Canada (15.1%) was similar with England (18.4%) and the USA (12.1%). Exposure to vaping ads via emails/texts was low overall (3.1%–9.9%). Exposure to, and use of, cigarette price offers was highest in the USA (34.0 % and 17.8 %, respectively), but the use rate among those exposed was highest in AU (64.9%). Exposure to, and use of, price offers for vaping products was higher in the USA (42.3 % and 21.7 %) than in AU, Canada and England (25.9%–31.5 % and 7.4%–10.3 %).ConclusionsPatterns of cigarette and vaping product marketing exposure generally reflected country-specific policies, except for online vaping ads. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

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An experimental study of effects on schoolchildren of exposure to point-of-sale cigarette advertising and pack displays

Health Education Research ◽

10.1093/her/cyl005 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 21 (3) ◽

pp. 338-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 61

Author(s):

M. Wakefield

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Cigarette Advertising

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Regulating Tobacco Product Advertising and Promotions in the Retail Environment: A Roadmap for States and Localities

The Journal of Law Medicine & Ethics ◽

10.1111/jlme.12326 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 878-896

Author(s):

Tamara Lange ◽

Michael Hoefges ◽

Kurt M. Ribisl

Keyword(s):

Premature Death ◽

Smoking Initiation ◽

Tobacco Product ◽

Causal Chain ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

Marketing Expenditures ◽

Advertising Exposure ◽

Continue Smoking

The evidence linking tobacco product advertising to adolescent smoking initiation and resulting long-term addiction, premature death, and disability is well established. Each link in the causal chain has been substantiated: children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to advertising; point-of-sale advertising comprises 92.1% of cigarette advertising and marketing expenditures by manufacturers and 71.3% of smokeless tobacco advertising; tobacco companies have targeted youth through advertising; advertising exposure causes adolescents to start and to continue smoking; among adults who become daily smokers, nearly all first use of cigarettes occurs by 18 years of age; adolescents who smoke are at high risk for long-term addiction because their brains are still developing; and long-term addiction results in the tremendous personal, social and financial costs of tobacco-related illnesses.

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Exposure to the Tobacco Power Wall Increases Adolescents’ Willingness to Use E-cigarettes in the Future

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/nty112 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 21 (10) ◽

pp. 1429-1433 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michael S Dunbar ◽

Steven C Martino ◽

Claude M Setodji ◽

William G Shadel

Keyword(s):

Cigarette Use ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Convenience Stores ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

The Future ◽

Before And After ◽

Susceptibility To Smoking ◽

Power Wall ◽

Willingness To Use

Abstract Introduction Adolescents’ e-cigarette use is now more prevalent than their combustible cigarette use. Youth are exposed to e-cigarette advertising at retail point-of-sale (POS) locations via the tobacco power wall (TPW), but no studies have assessed whether exposure to the TPW influences susceptibility to future e-cigarette use. Methods The study was conducted in the RAND Store Lab (RSL), a life-sized replica of a convenience store developed to experimentally evaluate how POS advertising influences tobacco use risk under simulated shopping conditions. In a between-subjects experiment, 160 adolescents (M age = 13.82; 53% female, 56% white) were randomized to shop in the RSL under one of two conditions: (1) TPW located behind the cashier (n = 80); or (2) TPW hidden behind an opaque wall (n = 80). Youths rated willingness to use e-cigarettes (“If one of your best friends were to offer you an e-cigarette, would you try it?”; 1 = definitely not, 10 = definitely yes) before and after exposure. Linear regression assessed differences in pre-post changes in willingness to use across conditions. Results Ever-use of e-cigarettes was 5%; use of cigarettes was 8%; use of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes was 4%. There were no differences between TPW conditions on these or other baseline variables (eg, age, gender). Compared to the hidden condition, TPW exposure was associated with greater increases in willingness to use e-cigarettes in the future (B = 1.15, standard error [SE] = 0.50, p = .02). Conclusions Efforts to regulate visibility of the TPW at POS may help to reduce youths’ susceptibility to initiating e-cigarettes as well as conventional tobacco products like cigarettes. Implications Past work suggests that exposure to the TPW in common retail settings, like convenience stores, may increase adolescents’ susceptibility to smoking cigarettes. This experimental study builds upon prior research to show that exposure to the TPW at retail POS similarly increases adolescents’ willingness to use e-cigarettes in the future. Efforts to regulate the visibility of the TPW in retail settings may help to reduce youths’ susceptibility to initiating nicotine and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

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Electronic cigarette advertising at the point-of-sale: a gap in tobacco control research

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2013-051337 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (e1) ◽

pp. e110-e112 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

O. Ganz ◽

J. Cantrell ◽

J. Moon-Howard ◽

A. Aidala ◽

T. R. Kirchner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Control ◽

Electronic Cigarette ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

Control Research

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New tobacco products, old advertising strategies: point-of-sale advertising in Guatemala

Tobacco Control ◽

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2020-055681 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. tobaccocontrol-2020-055681

Author(s):

Joaquin Barnoya ◽

Diego Monzon ◽

Jose Pinetta ◽

Graziele Grilo ◽

Joanna E Cohen

Keyword(s):

Tobacco Industry ◽

Electronic Cigarettes ◽

Data Entry ◽

Marketing Channel ◽

Median Number ◽

Guatemala City ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

Wide Range

ObjectiveCapsule cigarettes, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and heated tobacco products (HTPs) are now readily available in Guatemala. As in most countries, the point-of-sale (POS) remains an important marketing channel for the tobacco industry. Therefore, we sought to characterise the POS marketing of these products in the two largest cities in Guatemala.MethodsConvenience stores were randomly surveyed in mid and high socioeconomic status (SES) neighbourhoods in Guatemala City (n=60) and Quetzaltenango (n=15) in 2019. We adapted a previously implemented checklist to assess the availability of interior advertising of capsule cigarettes, e-cigarettes and HTP. Data entry was done in Kobo toolbox and analysis in STATA.ResultsAll stores sold conventional and flavoured capsule cigarettes, 78% e-cigarettes and 68% HTP. Most cigarette advertising was for capsule cigarettes. E-cigarettes were more likely to be sold in Guatemala City (96%) than in Quetzaltenango (13%). HTPs were only found in Guatemala City (85%), with no difference between high and medium SES neighbourhoods. Median number of ads for cigarettes and capsule cigarettes was higher in the high SES neighbourhood. Most e-cigarettes (83%) and HTP (74%) were found <50 cm from candy. E-cigarettes and HTP were available in a wide range of flavours. All stores that sold HTP had flavoured HEETS (amber, bronze, turquoise, yellow, blue and purple).ConclusionWe found a high prevalence of advertising for capsule cigarettes, e-cigarettes and HTP at the POS. The POS, a crucial advertising channel for the tobacco industry, is now being used for new products and therefore needs to be urgently regulated.

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Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Point of Sale Advertising—Assessing Compliance with Tobacco Advertising, Promotion and Sponsorship Bans in Poland

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18041976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 1976

Author(s):

Kinga Polanska ◽

Dorota Kaleta

Keyword(s):

Civil Society ◽

Tobacco Control ◽

Tobacco Industry ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Tobacco Advertising ◽

Point Of Sale ◽

The Public ◽

Cigarette Advertising ◽

Before And After ◽

Minimum Age

The objective of this study was to evaluate compliance with the ban on tobacco and e-cigarette products advertising at point of sale (POS) before and after amendment of the Polish Tobacco Control Act. Data were collected, using an observation checklist, between March and October 2014 (n = 1450 POS) and between March and October 2019 (n = 1320 POS). Ban on tobacco and e-cigarette advertising at POS is commonly violated in Poland. In all POS, at least one form (including tobacco products display) of tobacco advertising was found in 2014 and in 2019. The most common types of tobacco advertising in 2014 were change and counter mats (61%, 42%), posters (38%) and illuminated banners (37%). In 2019, a decrease in promoting tobacco products in the form of mats (p ≤ 0.001), posters and boards (p < 0.001) but an increase in video screens were observed (from 8% in 2014 to 30% in 2019; p < 0.001). A significant increase in the presence of any e-cigarette ads, including e-cigarette displays, illuminated banners and video screens, was observed in 2019 as compared to 2014 (90% vs. 30%; 89% vs. 20%; 31% vs. 2%; 31% vs. 0.5%; p < 0.001). The minimum age or a no-sale-to-minors signs for tobacco and e-cigarettes were not sufficiently placed in POS to comply with the Act. Poor enforcement of the ban on tobacco and e-cigarette ads at POS provides the tobacco industry with an opportunity to promote their products using unlawful ways. There is a need to educate the public, retailers and civil society with respect to their legal responsibilities and roles.

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