A Study into the Relationships Between Nicotine Vapour Product Retailer’s Locations and Income Deprivation, with Additional Focus on Sociodemographic Indicators and Possible Clustering Around Schools

Abstract

The invention of the e-cigarette has seen the largest shift in nicotine consumption since the Bonsack Machine in 1880. This new form of smoking, called ‘vaping’, has seen a steady increase in users since its introduction to the market. While there is extensive literature on the harms of smoking, and its geospatial relationship with poverty, the same cannot be said for vaping. Contradictory research findings, as a healthier nicotine delivery system and its usefulness as an effective cessation tool, has seen much debate around this subject. One area of real concern is the rise in school-age e-smoking, and the potential re-normalisation of smoking in young adults. This research has investigate the geospatial relationship of the physical retail environment, across sociodemographic variables, while taking a closer look at the relationship between vape store access and income deprivation. It has found that there are consistent sociodemographic variables which are found in areas of NVP retail. This Study has also found a national relationship with income deprivation and NVP presence, similar to that found in Tobacco. However, it has found that this relationship varies across the country, in particularly in cities, where middle income quartiles are most likely to have NVP presence. Additionally, this research discovered no clustering around schools, with schools in deprived areas only slightly more exposed to NVP retail.