Accessing the most lethal product on the market: community perceptions of tobacco accessibility in NSW, Australia

摘要

Aim:.This study aims to describe the perceived ease of accessing tobaccoretail outlets in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and the sociodemographicfactors associated with reported higher density of tobacco retail outlets.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with a sample ofNSW adults in February 2019. The accessibility of cigarettes was assessedand a binary logistic regression model was used to examine characteristicsassociated with having four or more retailers within a 5-minute drive of theirhome.Results: A total of 3213 NSW adults completed the survey. The vast majorityof participants, 89.9% (n = 2888), described cigarettes as being easilyaccessed from where they live. Half of the participants (50.7%) reportedhaving four or more tobacco retail outlets within a 5-minute drive of theirhome. Never-smokers were significantly less likely than daily smokers toreport four or more tobacco retailers within a 5-minute drive of their home,although non-smokers may be less likely to identify tobacco retailers.Females, those living in regional areas of NSW and those with a universityqualification were also less likely to report having four or more tobaccoretailers within a 5-minute drive of their home.Conclusion: The ease of access to tobacco retailers in NSW is incongruentwith the significant health risks associated with tobacco use and highlightsthe need for measures to reduce the supply of tobacco, such as a fee-basedtobacco licensing system.