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BACKGROUND: Rhode Island has the second lowest youth cigarette smoking rate in the US (8%), but new and emerging tobacco products challenge youth tobacco control efforts. Data from the 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey indicate that cigar and hookah use among high school youth exceed cigarettes, and 29% of current smokers self-reported buying their own cigarettes in a store or gas station. Tobacco use initiation and progression among youth increases with exposure to tobacco product advertising and promotion at the point of sale. To better understand the tobacco retail environment, we conducted systematic surveillance to monitor new and emerging products and examine youth exposure to specific tobacco products. This work was supported by funding from CDC’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work program.
METHODS: Approximately 1300 licensed tobacco selling stores were identified in Rhode Island. Of these stores, retail observations were conducted using a convenience sample of 501 stores from 36 of 39 communities. Data were collected between March and April of 2012 by 16 community agencies using a program-created survey tool informed by previously published instruments. Technical assistance and a detailed field protocol were provided to all agencies. Survey variables included product price, special offers, price promotions, flavor, and placement of specific brands of little cigars, cigarillos, snus, snuff, and dissolvable tobacco. Descriptive statistics were calculated using Stata and Microsoft Excel.
RESULTS: Of sampled stores, 58% had flavored Cheyenne little cigars, 62% had other brands of flavored cigarillos, 60% had flavored snus, and 52% had flavored snuff. All of these products were plainly visible in the store environment. Swisher single pack cigars were found on 14% of store counters and 15% of stores had other brands of cigarillos on the counter. Eleven percent of stores had special prices on little cigars, 14% had special prices on cigarillos, and 13% had multi-pack discounts on cigarillos. No stores offered free gifts.
CONCLUSIONS: Inexpensive, flavored tobacco products were found to be highly visible and readily available within stores frequented by youth. Tobacco products were placed where youth can see and access them. Repeated surveillance of the tobacco retail environment provides important information for policy makers, regulators, and community stakeholders. These data benefit environmental change initiatives designed to restrict availability of tobacco products to vulnerable youth in specific communities or neighborhoods.