A new study led by Otago University in New Zealand, researchers suggests that July 2012 legislation that removed all point-of-sale tobacco displays from shops selling cigarettes has helped reduce smoking among New Zealand school students to record low levels.
Lead researcher Professor Richard Edwards from the Department of Public Health says they found that the removal of point-of-sale (POS) tobacco displays, accompanied by increased enforcement measures and penalties for selling tobacco to minors, was followed by significant reductions both in experimental and regular smoking. For example, the proportion of children who had tried smoking but were not regular smokers fell, from 23-24% in 2011 and 2012 before the changes, to 17% in 2014. The proportion of smoking students who were buying or trying to buy cigarettes from stores also declined.
“This study provides strong evidence that the removal of prominent point-of-sale displays from almost all New Zealand dairies, petrol stations and supermarkets has protected children from starting to smoke, and has contributed to reducing smoking among schoolchildren to its lowest level for two decades,” says Professor Edwards.
What the tobacco companies say
“The tobacco industry has a history of saying that tobacco control measures won’t work and predicting disastrous effects, even when the evidence suggests otherwise. They are currently making such arguments to oppose the introduction of plain packaging. This study shows once again that the industry is not to be trusted, and that implementing rigorous tobacco control measures will help protect children from becoming smokers and achieve New Zealand’s world-leading Smokefree 2025 goal,” says Professor Hoek.
The study used data from the ASH Year 10 survey – an annual classroom-based survey of around 25,000 Year 10 students(14-15 years olds) that is used to provide national data on smoking among school students in New Zealand. It was published in the journal Tobacco Control, the leading international journal for research into tobacco control policy and practice.
Share this:
