| Summary: | Background
Evidence shows retail
availability of tobacco is ubiquitous and associated with higher smoking rates
and relapse among attempting quitters. Few strategies to reduce availability
are included in comprehensive tobacco control frameworks. This research aimed
to develop a model licensing scheme to reduce the number of retailers and curb
the supply of tobacco products.
Methods
A literature
review was conducted to identify international best practices in retail
licensing. The components of existing schemes were compiled, alongside evidence
of effectiveness and applicability within the Australian regulatory
environment. Expert feedback was
gathered at a forum of policymakers, researchers and international guest
speakers from jurisdictions where licensing schemes had been successfully
implemented. Recommendations following the forum were incorporated into the
model.
Results
A model licensing
scheme will be presented. This model is being promoted in Australia and
potentially other developed and perhaps developing countries. A licensing scheme should cover all tobacco
retailers, require an annual (re)application process and fees that ensure full
cost recovery. It should include a range
of measures for ensuring full compliance with retail controls, including
sanctions and the ability to lose the licence for non-compliance with specific
conditions or wider tobacco control laws.
A licensing scheme can also be used as a vehicle for controls on
density/number of retailers, and for securing useful data on the retail
environment, as well as for education of customers.
Conclusions
A licensing
scheme is a foundational step on which further regulatory steps may be required
in order to reduce supply over time, such as caps on the number of licenses
issued. In countries where the number of licences have been capped, smoking
rates have decreased and compliance with tobacco control laws has increased. Reducing the retail availability of tobacco products must
be a priority alongside other proven strategies in comprehensive tobacco
control in the future.
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