Cigarettes are more widely available and cheaper in the most disadvantaged suburbs.
This is the finding from a study published in the latest issue of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.
Emma Dalglish and colleagues from the University of Queensland surveyed retail outlets in low and high socioeconomic suburbs in South-East Queensland. Their aim was to determine if cigarette prices and density of retailers differed between suburbs.
“We found that not only were prices lower in low-socioeconomic areas, they were also below the recommended retail price,” Ms Dalglish said.
“The most disadvantaged suburbs had a greater number of tobacco retailers and cigarettes were sold in a broader range of outlets in low-socioeconomic areas.
“Smoking prevalence is highest among people who are disadvantaged, with the most disadvantaged being more likely to smoke and to smoke more cigarettes per day.
“Relatively little attention has been paid to the potential impact that tobacco retailing regulation could have on smoking prevalence in Australia, particularly in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage.”
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The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health is published by the Public Health Association of Australia. Information on the Association and the Journal can be found at http://www.phaa.net.au
