Storefront cigarette advertising differs by community demographic profile.
OBJECTIVE
Tobacco manufacturers have targeted youth and ethnic/racial minorities with tailored advertising. Less is known about how characteristics of storefront tobacco advertisements, such as location, position, size, and content, are used to appeal to demographic subgroups.


METHODS
The occurrence and characteristics of storefront cigarette advertising were observed for all licensed tobacco retailers in two defined communities.


METHODS
Measures were taken in two Boston, Massachusetts, area urban communities: a low-income, minority community and a high-income, nonminority community.


METHODS
No human subjects were involved in this study.


METHODS
Advertisement position (attached or separated from storefront), size (small, medium, or large), mentholation, and price were recorded. Geographic coordinates of tobacco retailers and schools were mapped using ArcGIS 9.2.


METHODS
Differences between the communities in advertisement number and characteristics were assessed using bivariate analyses. Logistic regression was used to ascertain the odds of specific advertising features occurring in the low-income/minority community.


RESULTS
The low-income/minority community had more tobacco retailers, and advertisements were more likely to be larger, promote menthol products, have a lower mean advertised price, and occur within 1000 feet of a school.


CONCLUSIONS
Storefront cigarette advertising characteristics that increase exposure and promote youth initiation were more prominent in a low-income/minority community. The findings emphasize the need for more effective regulation of storefront tobacco advertising.
Seidenberg
Andrew B
AB
Division of Public Health Practice, Harvard School of Public Health, Landmark Building, Level 3 East, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Caughey
Robert W
RW
Rees
Vaughan W
VW
Connolly
Gregory N
GN
D000293:Adolescent; D000329:Advertising / Q000379:methods*; D001741:Black or African American; D001900:Boston; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019460:Tobacco Industry