Strong Public Support to Reduce Tobacco Advertising in Stores
Price Chopper Super Markets Responds

A survey of residents in the greater capital region during the summer of 2008 revealed strong public support for the elimination of tobacco advertising in grocery stores with 68% of adults stating that grocery stores should eliminate tobacco advertising. Even stronger support was found for not posting tobacco advertising in pharmacies with 73% of respondents in agreement.

The data also showed that 65% of those surveyed believed that pharmacies should not even be selling tobacco products; nearly 50% also felt that grocery stores should not be selling tobacco products either.

The survey was conducted in June by Syracuse University researchers, who completed 1500 telephone interviews with adults in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties. The research was commissioned by the capital region community partnerships.

In contrast to this public support for the elimination of tobacco advertising in groceries and pharmacies extensive advertising exists at many of these stores. Across New York State, large grocery stores have on average, 19 tobacco ads posted, and pharmacies promoting tobacco with 18 ads on average.

For several years the New York State Department of Health has been funding community based partnerships to educate the public about tobacco advertising in retail stores and its role in increasing the likelihood of youth smoking. Judy Rightmyer, Project Director for the Capital District Tobacco Free Coalition explains, “The results of this community survey show that the public does not want tobacco advertising in stores frequented by families and youth.” Rightmyer notes that “Tobacco advertising has an especially negative impact on children and teens. Numerous studies have linked tobacco industry marketing practices to an increased likelihood that adolescents will begin to smoke.”

In addition to educating the public about the issue, the community partnerships have been meeting with executives at the Golub Corporation to discuss voluntary actions they might take to reduce the likelihood of children seeing tobacco ads and products at their stores. Over the summer Price Chopper redesigned the display cases that are prominently featured at the front of many of their stores. Those cases are now fogged over making the tobacco products and advertisements minimally visible. In addition the tobacco industry signage that was often featured at the top of the displays or along side the displays have been replaced with simple black and white signs stating Cigarette Center. Colorful, tobacco industry price lists have been replaced with black and white price listings. Tobacco displays behind the customer service desk have been entirely covered with curtains. Price Chopper will complete the renovation of tobacco displays at all its stores in the coming months.

Lauren Rowland, Youth Action Coordinator for Saratoga County was thrilled with these changes, “Price Chopper has shown their commitment to the health of families and youth in the community with these changes in how they market tobacco at their stores.”

Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition is one of 30 community partnerships funded by the New York State Department of Health Tobacco Control Program. For more information about the Coalition and its projects, visit www.TobaccoFreeAdirondacks.org .

For further information about the survey, contact Dr. Jeff Stonecash at Syracuse University, 315-443-3629 or Janine Stuchin, Southern Adirondack Tobacco Free Coalition, 518-581-1230.