Point of sale tobacco displays and smoking among 14-15 year olds in New Zealand: a cross-sectional study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between exposure to tobacco displays at the point of sale and teenage smoking and susceptibility to the uptake of smoking.


METHODS
The sample comprised a national cross-section of 14-15 year olds with two measures of exposure to tobacco displays at the point of sale and three outcome measures. The outcome measures were susceptibility to smoking initiation, experimenting with smoking or current smoking.


RESULTS
Compared with visiting stores less often than weekly, a greater frequency of store visits was related to increased odds of being susceptible to smoking (daily visits, adjusted OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 2.2) and experimenting with smoking (daily visits, adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 2.4 to 3.1). The likelihood of being a current smoker increased with a greater frequency of store visits among students of medium and high socioeconomic status, but not among those of low socioeconomic status.


CONCLUSIONS
Although these findings are cross-sectional in nature, they are consistent with the notion that greater exposure to tobacco displays at the point of sale increases youth smoking, and suggest display bans are needed.
Paynter
J
J
Action on Smoking and Health New Zealand, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand. jpaynter@ash.org.nz
Edwards
R
R
Schluter
P J
PJ
McDuff
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000329:Advertising; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors