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JUUL settles NC suit for $40 million

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Last month, Juul Labs agreed to pay North Carolina $40 million to settle the first of many lawsuits brought by states claiming the e-cigarette company’s marketing contributed to widespread nicotine addiction among youths. The settlement was announced as the Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether its vaping products can stay on the market. Read [...]

JUUL invests $30 million in ads to burnish image

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A study from the University of Chicago examined JUUL’s advertising efforts in 2018 and 2019. Touted as an effort to combat underage use, in 2018, JUUL invested $30 million investment in ads, primarily promoting the products and emphasizing its role in smoking reduction. In 2019, the company spent $36.2 million in advertising. These marketing activities [...]

Neighborhood poverty, scanner ID checks associated with retailer T21 compliance

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A study in Columbus, Ohio, examined whether compliance checks with Tobacco 21 were related to retailer characteristics, including neighborhood poverty level, in-store T21 signage, and cashier behaviors and perceptions of the law. The authors found that compliance with ID checks was lower in high-poverty neighborhoods and higher among retailers using scanners for ID checks. They [...]

Retailer density linked to daily smoking

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A paper in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine based on the dissertation of ASPiRE’s Amanda Kong (UNC) found that the density of tobacco retailers, especially gas stations and convenience stores that sell tobacco products, was associated with adult smoking behaviors. Read the paper. Kong also posted a brief “tweetorial” about the data. [...]

July 2021 retail tobacco-related literature search results

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At the beginning of each month, we conduct a search of the PubMed database for new peer-reviewed articles on the retail tobacco environment and policy.  Many of these articles are available for FREE. The July 2021 PubMed search results are now available. Check them out! And check back after the first Tuesday of each month [...]

June 2021 retail tobacco-related literature search results

Library shelves

At the beginning of each month, we conduct a search of the PubMed database for new peer-reviewed articles on the retail tobacco environment and policy.  Many of these articles are available for FREE. The June 2021 PubMed search results are now available. Check them out! And check back after the first Tuesday of each month [...]

ASPiRE D&I Pilot Research Program accepting applications

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The ASPiRE Center is awarding pilot grants of $10,000 each for the 2021-2022 grant cycle to fund developmental or early stage work, with the purpose of advancing D&I science and building capacity for D&I research in evidence-based tobacco retail policy. More information and downloadable application materials are available here. [...]

Redlining and tobacco retail density

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Researchers from The Ohio State University tracked maps of 13 Ohio cities over time using racially discriminatory redlining criteria and tobacco retailer licenses by location and found that tobacco retailer density increased as redlining grades decreased, reflecting higher densities in low-income and Black neighborhoods. See the paper. [...]

Local control important to Tobacco 21

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A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows localities can provide an extra layer to the federal Tobacco 21 law by adding components to their own T21 laws, like a comprehensive definition of tobacco, retail licensure, a graduated penalty structure, and an enforcement mechanism (e.g., compliance checks, inspections, etc.). Now, most local T21 [...]