Assessing storefront tobacco advertising after the billboard ban.
This study examined storefront tobacco advertisements in 11 towns in Illinois from 1999 through 2001 to assess possible changes in these types of advertisements since the master tobacco settlement, which banned tobacco advertisements on billboards. Observers assessed the number of merchant- and industry-made tobacco storefront advertisements in Illinois stores and whether these advertisements were either brand- or price-focused. The relationship between the amount of tobacco advertisements and underage tobacco sales to minors was also explored. Findings indicated no significant relationships between tobacco advertisements and underage tobacco sales. However, industry price advertisements decreased over time because of tobacco price increases resulting from the master settlement, whereas industry brand advertisements increased over time, perhaps in an effort by the tobacco industry to retain sales of their products through brand recognition.
Jason
Leonard A
LA
Center for Community Research, DePaul University, 990 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA.
Pokorny
Steven B
SB
Mikulski
Kathy
K
Schoeny
Michael E
ME
D000329:Advertising / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control*; D062789:Tobacco Products