title: A comparison of three policy approaches for tobacco retailer reduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Institute of Medicine recommends that public health agencies restrict the number and regulate the location of tobacco retailers as a means of reducing tobacco use. However, the best policy strategy for tobacco retailer reduction is unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to test the percent reduction in the number and density of tobacco retailers in North Carolina resulting from three policies: (1) prohibiting sales of tobacco products in pharmacies or stores with a pharmacy counter, (2) restricting sales of tobacco products within 1000 ft of schools, and (3) regulating to 500 ft the minimum allowable distance between tobacco outlets.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study uses data from two lists of tobacco retailers gathered in 2012, one at the statewide level, and another "gold standard" three-county list. Retailers near schools were identified using point and parcel boundaries in ArcMap. Python programming language generated a random lottery system to remove retailers within 500 ft of each other. Analyses were conducted in 2014.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A minimum allowable distance policy had the single greatest impact and would reduce density by 22.1% at the state level, or 20.8% at the county level (range 16.6% to 27.9%). Both a pharmacy and near-schools ban together would reduce density by 29.3% at the state level, or 29.7% at the county level (range 26.3 to 35.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of policies restricting tobacco sales in pharmacies, near schools, and/or in close proximity to another tobacco retailer would substantially reduce the number and density of tobacco retail outlets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Counter Tools, Carrboro, NC, United States. Electronic address: aemyers@live.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Allison E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Marissa G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Counter Tools, Carrboro, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Isgett
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Counter Tools, Carrboro, NC, United States; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Kurt M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Ribisl
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062305:Geographic Mapping; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D009657:North Carolina; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019460:Tobacco Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D062789:Tobacco Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*
keywords: Policy; Public health; Tobacco