Neighborhood distribution of availability of newer tobacco products: a US four-site study, 2021

Introduction:
This text is a summary of a research study examining the availability of newer tobacco products, specifically nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes, in four different US sites. The study aims to identify correlations between the availability of these products and neighborhood demographics, store type, and proximity to schools.

Key Points:

* The study included 242 tobacco retailers in four US sites: New Jersey, Kentucky, North Carolina, and New York.
* Nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes were each available in around half of the stores overall, but availability differed across sites (range: 76 %--32 %).
* In adjusted analyses, nicotine pouches were less likely to be available in non-chain convenience stores, tobacco stores/vape shops, and other store types (grocery/supermarket, pharmacy, dollar store, mass merchandiser, gas kiosk) compared to chain convenience stores.
* Nicotine pouches were more likely to be available in stores in census tracts with a greater percentage of non-hispanic White residents.
* Disposable e-cigarettes were more likely to be available in tobacco stores/vape shops and less likely in non-specialty store types (grocery/supermarket, pharmacy, dollar store, mass merchandiser, gas kiosk) compared to chain convenience stores.
* There did not appear to be targeting of either product by neighborhood poverty or in stores near schools.

Main Message:
The study found that newer tobacco products, specifically nicotine pouches and disposable e-cigarettes, were widely available in stores across the four US sites. however, retail marketing patterns appear to differ for these two products, with nicotine pouches more likely to be available in chain convenience stores and in neighborhoods with a greater percentage of non-hispanic White residents, while disposable e-cigarettes are more prevalent in tobacco/vape shops but not in other non-specialty store types. Understanding these patterns is critical as these product types become subject to increased regulation under the FDa pre-market authorization process.

Rose, S. W., annabathula, a., Westneat, S., van de Venne, J., hrywna, M., ackerman, C., Lee, J. G. L., Sesay, M., Giovenco, D. P., Spillane, T., hudson, S. V., & Delnevo, C. D. (2022). Neighborhood distribution of availability of newer tobacco products: a US four-site study, 2021. Preventive Medicine Reports, 30, 102028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102028