March 30, 2022 – The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County’s The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade Tobacco-Free Workgroup is working to educate the community about the importance of the point-of-sale, retail environment where tobacco or nicotine products are sold.
Point-of-sale marketing is a major priority for the tobacco industry. Supposedly “power walls”
– the walls often behind the register (as required by the county’s product placement ordinance) display an array of tobacco and nicotine products – often dominating much of the store and attracting new smokers, this which makes it difficult for ex-smokers or those trying to quit to succeed. Unfortunately, there is a higher density of tobacco retailers in communities with higher percentages of African Americans, Hispanics, people living below the poverty line, or women over 25 without a degree. of high school. 1 The clustering of retailers near schools, churches, homes and community centers increases the risk of exposure to tobacco advertising, marketing and promotions.
In addition, tobacco companies use price promotions such as discounts and multi-pack coupons
– which are most often used by low-income and underserved populations – to increase sales. 2 Many of these point-of-sale stores – such as convenience stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, discount stores and traditional tobacco retailers – display tobacco product marketing posters with branded shelves and offer promotions and price discounts, which together make tobacco products attractive, easy to obtain and affordable. “Unfortunately, these tactics are especially visible in low-income communities, severely impacting the lives of underserved people,” says Dr. Zinzi Bailey, chair of the policy and oversight subcommittee for the Consortium for a Healthier Miami- Dade Tobacco-Free Workgroup.
Tobacco marketing in stores near schools is also of particular concern due to the increased likelihood of exposure to pro-tobacco messages when students visit or near these stores. 3 As recent research has revealed, tobacco marketing is more prevalent in stores frequented by young people.4
The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County’s Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade Tobacco-Free Workgroup works to educate the community about the harms of tobacco and nicotine products and to educate county residents about resources cessation products available, such as Tobacco Free Florida, to help those who want to quit smoking. To get involved, please visit www.healthymiamidade.org/committees/tobacco-free-workgroup.
About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Councilstrives to protect, promote and improve the health of all Florida residents through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.
About tobacco-free Florida
The department’s Tobacco Free Florida Campaign is a statewide cessation and prevention campaign funded by the Florida Tobacco Settlement Fund. Since the program began in 2007, more than 254,000 Floridians have successfully quit using one of Tobacco Free Florida’s free tools and services. There are now about 451,000 fewer adult smokers in Florida than 10 years ago, and the state has saved $17.7 billion in health care costs. To learn more about Tobacco Free Florida’s Quit Your Way services, visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TobaccoFreeFlorida or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/tobaccofreefla.
1Rodriguez D, Carlos HA, Adachi-Mejia AM, Berke EM, Sargent JD. Predictors of national tobacco outlet density: a geographic analysis. Tob Control. 2013 Sep;22(5):349-55. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050120. Published online April 4, 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Predictors+of+tobacco+outlet+density+nationwide%3A+a+geographic+analysis. [accessed 2021 Aug 5].
2 Center for Public Health Systems Science. Point of sale Strategies: A guide to tobacco control. St. Louis: Center for Public Health Systems Science, George Warren Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis and the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium, 2014 [accessed 2021 Aug 5].
3 National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (USA) Office of Smoking and Health. Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Surgeon General’s Report. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US); 2012. 5, Tobacco Industry Influences on Youth Tobacco Use. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK99238/. [accessed 2021 Aug 5].
4Henriksen, L, et al., “Reaching Youth at the Point of Sale: Cigarette Marketing is Most Prevalent in Stores Where Teenagers Frequently Shop,” Tobacco Control 13: 315-318, 2004.
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