Tobacco Retail & Marketing

Download the NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City's Tobacco Retail Factsheet (English Version / Spanish Version) and study, Removing Tobacco from the Product-Mix: Evaluating Opportunities for Pharmacy Retailers.

Research shows that 90 percent of all adult smokers begin before age 18.[1]  Despite record levels of compliance with laws restricting tobacco sales to minors, 1-in-5 high school smokers usually obtain their cigarettes by purchasing them in retail stores.[2]  Research shows that exposure to tobacco marketing in stores and greater concentration of tobacco retailers is associated with illegal cigarette purchases by young people[3] and higher rates of youth smoking.[4]

Retail stores – pharmacies, bodegas, convenient stores – are one of the last places in New York City where the tobacco industry can target our youth.  In New York City, there are 11,500 licensed tobacco retailers[5] and approximately 75 percent of these stores are located within one thousand feet of a school perimeter.[6]  The NYC Coalition for a Smoke-Free City is committed to reducing youth exposure to tobacco marketing by working with our community partners to educate New Yorkers on aggressive tobacco marketing and sales in retail stores and the effect that it has on our youth. 

Possible Solutions

Prohibiting the sale of tobacco products at pharmacies and decreasing marketing and visibility of tobacco products in retail stores are among several options the Coalition is exploring to reduce the number of new youth smokers.

Decrease the Visibility of Tobacco Marketing

In 2006, the tobacco industry spent $12.5 billion nationally on tobacco advertising, promotions, and price discounts for wholesalers and retailers.[7]  This is more than the amount spent to market junk food, soda, and alcohol combined.[8]^,[9]  In New York State alone, the tobacco industry spends approximately $1 million per day to market its deadly products.[10]

Studies show that even brief exposure to tobacco advertising influences adolescents’ intentions to smoke.[11]  The more tobacco marketing kids see, the more likely they are to smoke.  With over two thirds of teens shopping in convenience stores at least once per week, we must take action to reduce youth exposure to in‐store tobacco marketing.

Limit Selling Tobacco Products Around Schools

Three out of four licensed tobacco retailers in New York City are located within a few blocks of a school.  According to a 2011 public opinion survey, 65 percent of New Yorkers support  limiting tobacco retailers near schools.  Limiting the sale of tobacco products around schools will decrease the number of new youth smokers and help current smokers quit

Prohibit the Sale of Tobacco Products in Pharmacies

There are over 4,300 licensed pharmacies in New York State.  Currently, tobacco products are not sold at hospitals, medical clinics, retailers Target and Wegmans, and 85% of independent pharmacies.  However, among large chain drug stores – Duane Reade, CVS, Rite Aid – over 50% sell tobacco products.  Now is the time to end the sale of tobacco products at pharmacies in New York City.  The Pharmacist Society of the State of New York and 60 percent of New Yorkers favor prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies. Pharmacies function as providers of health care and smoking cessation medications.  As such, it is a conflict of interest for them to also profit from the sale of harmful products such as tobacco. Prohibiting the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies in New York City will reduce the number of new youth smokers and encourage current smokers to quit.

Recent Activities

During the week of October 17th, the Coalition partnered with the American Lung Association in New York, community partners and youth from all five boroughs to lead decision markers on walking tours in their communities to highlight the presence of tobacco marketing that targets youth.  The "Take a Walk in Our Shoes" Tobacco Marketing tours were a huge success! Here is video coverage from all five walks.

How do our NYC and NY State Legislators feel about this IMPORTANT issue?

"We as a community need to do more to ensure that our youth never start smoking and to reduce the harmful impact this advertising has on our kids."  Senator Gustavo Rivera, Bronx

"The repetition and insidious ways of marketing these deadly products to our youth has a lasting effects that we as lawmakers must pay serious attention to."  Councilmember Margaret S. Chin, Manhattan

We must continue protecting youth from tobacco marketing and limit their exposure to advertisements."  Councilmember Diana Reyna, Brooklyn

"I have always been a strong proponent of protecting the health of our children - our future leaders - by ensuring that they can grow up in a smoke-free environment."  Assemblymember Grace Meng, Queens

"Our children are being raised to think that buying a pack of cigarettes is no different than buying a pack of gum." Assemblymember Lou Tobacco, Staten Island

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  “National Household Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2007.” 
2. New York State Department of Health.  “Youth Tobacco Survey 2008.”
3. Leatherdale, S. “Tobacco retailer density surrounding schools and cigarette access behaviors among underage smoking students.”  Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33(1) 2007.
4. Henriksen, L et al. “Is adolescent smoking related to the density and proximity of tobacco outlets and retail cigarette advertising near schools?” Preventive Medicine, 47, 2008.
5. New York State Department of Tax and Finance, 2009.
6. New York State Department of Health.  “Profile of Licensed Tobacco Retailers and Tobacco Advertising, 2010.”
7. U.S. Federal Trade Commission. “Cigarette Report for 2006.”
8. U.S. Federal Trade Commission.  “A Report to Congress: Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry Expenditure, Activities and Self Regulation.”  2008.
9. U.S. Federal Trade Commission.  “2005 Self Regulation in the Alcohol Industry FTC Report.”
10. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.  “Estimated tobacco industry marketing in NYS.”
11. National Cancer Institute. “The role of media in promoting and reducing tobacco use.” NIH publication no. 07 6242, 2008.