Open AccessPrice discounting of cigarettes in milk bars near secondary schools occurs more frequently in areas with greater socioeconomic disadvantage
Author(s) -
McCarthy Molly,
Scully Maree,
Wakefield Melanie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.946
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1753-6405
pISSN - 1326-0200
DOI - 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2010.00636.x
Subject(s) - socioeconomic status , metropolitan area , environmental health , neighbourhood (mathematics) , disadvantage , demography , geography , medicine , business , socioeconomics , advertising , economics , political science , sociology , mathematics , population , mathematical analysis , archaeology , law
Objective:To examine differences in price discounting of cigarettes in milk bars located near secondary schools in metropolitan areas of Victoria, according to neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES).Method:Milk bars within one km of randomly selected secondary schools in Victorian metropolitan areas were audited to assess the advertised price of the most popular cigarette brands.Results:Cigarette brands were available below the recommended retail price (RRP) at between 10% to 14% of the 62 milk bars visited. Price discounting was occurring significantly more frequently in areas of lower SES, with between 23% and 33% of milk bars in these neighbourhoods selling the leading cigarette brands at below RRP.Conclusions:Price discounting was found to be occurring to a greater extent in milk bars near secondary schools in low SES areas compared to mid to high SES areas.Implications:Promotional tools that make cigarettes more affordable risk undermining efforts to reduce smoking prevalence, especially in price sensitive populations of lower SES.