Corner store visits and cigar, cigarillo and little cigar (CCLC) use among middle school adolescents

Background: Youth use of cigars, cigarillos and little cigars (CCLC) is on the rise. Research indicates that exposure to tobacco advertising is linked to adolescent smoking, and youth are repeatedly exposed to tobacco marketing in the retail environment. This study assessed whether visits to corner stores were associated with CCLC use among 7^th-8^th grade youth in Cleveland, Ohio, after controlling for demographics and parental monitoring.

Methods: A local Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted with urban 7^th- 8^th grade students in spring 2012 (n=4348; 78.9% response rate). CCLC use was assessed by asking if students had smoked CCLC in the past 30 days. Corner store visits were assessed by asking how often students visited a corner store on the way to or from school. Covariates include self-reported gender, race, grade, and parental monitoring. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between CCLC and corner store usage.

Results: Overall, 13.8% of youth reported CCLC use. Students visiting a corner store 1+ times/week were more likely to report CCLC use than others (15.3% vs. 8.7%, p<0.001). After controlling for demographics, this relationship remained (OR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.25, 2.26). Further, among youth with the highest parental monitoring, corner store visits were associated with a threefold increase in CCLC use (3.1% vs 9.5%).

Conclusion: Youth stopping at corner stores may be exposed to increased tobacco retail advertising and tobacco products, potentially increasing their future risk of CCLC use. This has implications for FDA regulation to prevent tobacco initiation among youth.