Support for tobacco retail licensing policies in Fresno County, California

Tobacco use is attributed to over 70% of deaths each year. About 75% of California smokers started smoking before age 18. California Youth Tobacco Purchase Surveys show that teens were sold tobacco between 12% and 19% of the times they tried to buy it. The purpose of this study was to determine public support for the adoption of a tobacco retail license ordinance that would make the sale of tobacco products to be licensed like that of alcohol. Procedures: A seven-item survey was administered to a convenience sample of the First Baptist “Street Fair” attendees. The survey questions addressed demographic information, smoking status, smoking-related illnesses, knowledge of health/illness effects of second hand smoke, and support for the adoption of tobacco licensing policies. Results: A total of 116 surveys were completed. The demographic characteristics of the participants included 66.4% females and 29.3% males, with a mean age of 31.9 years. Two-thirds (65.5%) of the participants indicated that they would support the adoption of a tobacco retail licensing policy. Pearson Chi-Square revealed that females were no more likely to support the adoption of a tobacco retail licensing as compared to males (c² = 2.881, df = 4, p=.578). Older participants were more likely to support the adoption of a tobacco retail license policy (c² = 17.192, df = 4, p=.002). Nonsmokers were more likely to support the adoption of a tobacco retail licensing policy as compared to smokers (c² = 1.303, df = 4, p=.861). Findings and recommendations will be discussed.