title: Who stops selling? A systematic analysis of ex-tobacco retailers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is evidence that wide distribution of cigarettes contributes to smoking, and multiple commentators have called for a review of tobacco retailing. This study analyses retailers who stop selling cigarettes, why they do so, and discusses the implications for tobacco control.
  
  
  METHODS
  An audit of tobacco retailers in the Australian state of NSW was used to identify retailers who had stopped selling tobacco, and they were then compared with current retailers to determine how many, and what types of outlets stop selling tobacco. Attempts were made to contact and interview all former tobacco retailers identified in three audited regions. In-depth interviews were conducted with 13 ex-tobacco retailers, or 31% of the subset of ex-tobacco retailers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Low-volume outlet types were over-represented as a proportion of retailers exiting the market, and some had resumed selling within 18 months of the audit. Low profits were often cited as a contributor to stopping; however, in all but one case, the decision to stop selling was also influenced by a significant change in business circumstances-either legislative or other business changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Few retailers stop selling tobacco while continuing in the same business, and those who stop disproportionately represent retailer types with low sales volume. The results suggest that legislative changes provide a window where retailers could be prompted to exit the market.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Feletto
authors.affiliation: Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rae
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fry
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council VIC, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sutton
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Lachlan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagus
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Egger
keywords: Economics; Prevention; Public policy; Taxation