Point of Sale Advertising and Promotion of Cigarettes, Electronic Cigarettes, and Heated Tobacco Products in Warsaw, Poland-A Pilot Study.

Paweł Koczkodaj,Elwira Gliwska,Armando Peruga,Paloma Cuchi,Agata Ciuba

doi:10.3390/ijerph182413002

Abstract

Prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use among teenagers in Poland is high. Polish law bans most advertising and promotion for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco products (HTPs). This study investigates marketing for these products at points of sale (POS) near secondary schools in Warsaw, Poland, noting if the advertising and promotion were allowed under current Polish laws. All POS within 250 m radii of five selected secondary schools in each of three Warsaw districts were assessed for tobacco and e-cigarette direct advertising, inside and outside; offers of gifts or promotional discounts; tobacco merchandising, and tobacco displays. Of the 112 POS surveyed, 83% exposed customers to some form of advertising or promotion of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or HTPs; in 76%, advertising or promotion that violated Polish law was present. More than 80% of POS surveyed displayed tobacco products; in 19%, these products were displayed near products of interest to minors. POS density observed here was 30.3 per km2, higher than in other European cities. In Poland, a high proportion of POS near schools violates the law banning the advertisement and promotion of tobacco and nicotine consumer products through a dense tobacco retailer network.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilSmoking is still a critical public health challenge in Poland, among youth.The latest available data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that, in 2016, 15.6% of boys and 14.9% of girls aged 13–15 years old were current cigarette smokers in Poland
To the best of our knowledge, there are no data on the prevalence of smoking heated tobacco products (HTPs) among youth in Poland
Given the high prevalence of smoking and e-cigarette use among teenagers in Poland, this study explores the level and types of advertising and promotion of cigarettes, ecigarettes, and HTPs present in Poland because teenagers are susceptible to these marketing techniques [8]

Summary

Introduction

The latest available data from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that, in 2016, 15.6% of boys and 14.9% of girls aged 13–15 years old were current cigarette smokers in Poland. The prevalence of current electronic cigarette (ecigarette) use was 28% among boys and 18.6% among girls 13–15 years of age. Teenagers in Poland were ranked as the highest users of e-cigarettes in Europe [2]. While the prevalence of current cigarette smoking has decreased slightly, remaining high among teenagers since 1999 [3], the prevalence of e-cigarette use among Polish youth has increased significantly recently: from 6% in 2011 to 29.9% in 2014 [4]. To the best of our knowledge, there are no data on the prevalence of smoking heated tobacco products (HTPs) among youth in Poland

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion