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Point of Sale Marketing & Policies
Point of Sale
Tobacco companies spend approximately 90% of their marketing dollars on point-of-sale promotion and price discounts. They invest billions at the point-of-sale because they know this type of marketing attracts the form of new, young customers who, because of the powerful addictive properties of nicotine, are likely to be life-long tobacco users.
According to the Surgeon General’s 2012 report:
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Tobacco use is a “pediatric epidemic”.
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Tobacco marketing in stores is a primary cause of youth smoking.
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Each day across the United States over 3,800 youth under 18 years of age start smoking.
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Among adults who become daily smokers, nearly all first use of cigarettes occurs by 18 years of age (88%), with 99% of first use by 26 years of age.
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Exposing the developing brain to nicotine has been shown to alter its structure and function in a way that introduces long-lasting vulnerability for addiction to nicotine and other substances of abuse.
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Most young smokers become adult smokers. One half of adult smokers die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases.
Policy as a Solution
To protect our children, and support adults who want to end their addiction to nicotine and quit using tobacco, our state must reduce exposure to in-store tobacco marketing. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and repeated exposure to tobacco marketing creates curiosity among impressionable youth and unnecessary triggers for those trying to quit
Zoning Policy
Licensing Policy
Ordinances that specifies conditions for permissible tobacco product sales. Using land use regulations to zone retailers to “adult-use” areas which are far from schools, churches, parks, & youth-centered locations.
Options include, 1] “cap and winnow” strategies reduce the number of tobacco retailers over time through attrition, 2] prevent tobacco retailers in certain zones (residential, adult-use or commercial), and 3] restrict from certain areas through condition use permits (near schools)
Regulatory tool that requires a retailer to obtain a license before selling commercial tobacco products (in addition to state-mandated). This method simplifies enforcement of the sales regulation of tobacco or vape products and allow jurisdictions to suspend or revoke licenses for violations.
These laws can reduce or restrict the number, location, density, and types of tobacco retail outlets; limit point-of-sale ad and product placement;
Policy Options
Cap the number of retailers in a geographic area.
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Example:
20 per Town of Irondequoit
Cap the number of retailers relative to population size.
Example:
1 store per 2,000 people
Require a minimum distance between retailers.
Example:
Stores can’t operate within 1,000 + of each other
Prohibit retailers near school/youth-sensitive areas.
Example:
Within 1,000 + feet of schools
Limit promotions & redemption of coupons.
Example:
Ban price discounts to curb disparities