Consumer perceptions of the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and grocery stores among U.S. adults

Abstract

BackgroundPharmacy-based tobacco sales are a rapidly increasing segment of the U.S. retail tobacco market. Growing evidence links easy access to tobacco retail outlets such as pharmacies to increased tobacco use. This mixed-mode survey was the first to employ a nationally representative sample of consumers (n = 3057) to explore their opinions on sale of tobacco products in pharmacies and grocery stores.ResultsThe majority reported that sale of tobacco products should be either ‘allowed if products hidden from view’ (29.9%, 25.6%) or ‘not allowed at all’ (24.0%, 31.3%) in grocery stores and pharmacies, respectively. Significantly fewer smokers, compared to non-smokers, reported agreement on point-of-sale restrictions on sales of tobacco products (grocery stores: 27.1% vs. 59.6%, p < .01; pharmacy: 32.8% vs. 62.0%, p < .01). Opinions also varied significantly by demographic characteristics and factors such as presence of a child in the household and urban/rural location of residence.ConclusionsOverall, a majority of consumers surveyed either supported banning sales of tobacco in grocery stores and pharmacies or allowing sales only if the products are hidden from direct view. Both policy changes would represent a departure from the status quo. Consistent with the views of practicing pharmacists and professional pharmacy organizations, consumers are also largely supportive of more restrictive policies.

Understanding Community Norms Surrounding Tobacco Sales

“…These showed that slightly more than half of San Franciscans (56%) and New Yorkers (57%) sampled favored banning tobacco sales in pharmacies [12], [14], and half of New Yorkers favored banning sales in grocery stores [12]. Support for both policies is lower nationally [15].…”

Attitudes Toward Prohibiting Tobacco Sales in Pharmacy Stores Among U.S. Adults

“…These findings are generally consistent with previous surveys, which indicate cigarette smokers are less likely to have favorable attitudes toward tobacco-related sales restrictions in pharmacies. 6,7 However, this study is the first to document that current users of non-cigarette tobacco products are also less likely to demonstrate favorability for such policies than never users. Non-cigarette tobacco product users are an important subgroup to consider, as tobacco-free pharmacy policies typically address the diversity of tobacco products available on the market.…”

“…Previous studies have documented general public favorability toward tobacco-related sales restrictions in pharmacy stores at national and local levels, and variations in favorability by sociodemographic characteristics and cigarette smoking status. 6,7 However, increasingly more communities across the U.S. have since implemented policies that prohibit the sale of tobacco products in these settings. 8 Moreover, the tobacco product landscape continues to diversify, and no study has assessed variations in public attitudes toward such policies by other forms of tobacco product use beyond cigarettes.…”

Influence of Different Sales Models on Psychological Reactance of Consumers in Online Shopping of Fresh Fruits

“…As people's living standards continue to increase, consumer demand for quality fruits and their processed products has been grown continuously (Abdul-Muhmin, 2010). Focusing on the interests of farmers, an industrial chain can combine industrial groups closely related to the production of agricultural primary products together, so as to form various relationships of market transactions, transaction integration, and contractual between different parties (Patwardhan, Mcmillen, & Winickoff, 2013). Figure 2 shows the overview of the fresh fruit industry chain generally consisting of three links: fruit planting, processing and circulation of fresh fruit, and fresh fruit consumption.…”