The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #61784

Beverly Jones Wright, BA¹, Michele Jacknik, MSEd¹, Kay M. Adkins, MPH¹, Mohammed Forouzesh, MPH, PhD², and Veronica Acosta-DePrez, PhD, CHES³. (1) Tobacco Use Reduction Now (TURN) Program, San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, 505 N. Arrowhead Ave. Suite 500, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0048, (909) 388-5778, bjones-wright@dph.sbcounty.gov, (2) California State University at Long Beach, Health Sciences Department, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840-0006, (3) Health Science, California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840

Retail markets have a proliferation of pro tobacco ads despite the laws to reduce signage. Staff at San Bernardino County’s Tobacco Use Reduction Now (TURN) Program worked to reduce the ratio of tobacco ads to anti-tobacco signs. Volunteers and staff surveyed 55 stores to determine compliance with signage laws. Stores surveyed included markets (32%), liquor stores (11%), gas stations (9%), Mini-marts (32%), and others (17%). Seventeen percent had half of their window space covered by tobacco advertisements, with close to 70% having one fourth of their window space covered by tobacco advertisements. Observations included interior and exterior signage. Self-service displays, products placed near candy, products placed near the entrance, and “STAKE” Act compliance stickers were noted. Placement of illegal items such as Bidis, single sale cigarettes, and other tobacco product violations were also identified. Efforts were made to educate the clerks as the first store contact. Clerks were found to have little influence in placing products in proper and/or legal locations and are often ignorant about tobacco laws. Tobacco representatives played a key role in deciding how to place tobacco products in the store, even removing anti-tobacco signs that had been placed by TURN volunteers. Store management relied on tobacco representatives to inform them of tobacco laws and how to display their products. Issues related to countering the tobacco industry’s influence, education of clerks, strategies to collaborate with merchants, and methods for asserting community influence will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• Define two reduction strategies for retail tobacco advertising
• Evaluate effective approaches for community involvement in merchant education
• Develop a plan to reduce tobacco advertising your community.

Keywords: Marketing, Tobacco

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.