Tobacco retail density: still the new frontier in tobacco control

Reducing the number of tobacco sellers would make it easier for smokers to quit

After four decades of intense and innovative tobacco control policies and programs, Australian governments have achieved large reductions in population level smoking rates. The focus of this comprehensive approach has been to reduce consumer demand for tobacco products through high tobacco taxes, emotive mass media campaigns, graphic health warnings on packages, subsidised smoking cessation services and treatments, smoke-free public spaces, and bans on all forms of tobacco advertising.1 However, despite early calls for restrictions on the number and location of tobacco retail outlets,2 Australia is falling behind other jurisdictions in adopting polices that seek to limit the supply of tobacco products.