Characteristics of tobacco retailers in New Zealand

Louise Marsh; Crile Doscher; Lindsay A Robertson

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.07.003

Characteristics of tobacco retailers in New Zealand

Health Place. 2013 Sep:23:165-70. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.07.003. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Authors

Louise Marsh¹, Crile Doscher, Lindsay A Robertson

Affiliation

¹ Cancer Society Social & Behavioural Research Unit, Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand. Louise.marsh@otago.ac.nz

PMID: 23933446
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2013.07.003

Abstract

Using data on known tobacco outlets throughout NZ, GIS was used to map outlets, deprivation and secondary schools. A total of 5008 tobacco outlets were identified, giving a density of one outlet per 617 people or one outlet per 129 smokers. One-half of secondary schools had an outlet within 500 m. Tobacco outlets were more densely located in areas of higher socioeconomic deprivation. One third of all tobacco outlets had a licence to sell alcohol. This study indicates the widespread retail availability of tobacco and the need for a mandatory system of registration for better enforcement of smokefree legislation.

Keywords: Density; New Zealand; School; Spatial characteristics; Tobacco retailer.

MeSH terms

Commerce* / statistics & numerical data
Linear Models
New Zealand
Spatial Analysis
Tobacco Products / supply & distribution*