{
  "abstract": "Background China prohibits tobacco product sales near schools and, as of 2022, bans non-tobacco-flavoured e-cigarette sale. This study assessed changes in tobacco sales and marketing near schools in ten cities across China from 2021 to 2023.Methods We sampled 879 schools (731 urban, 148 rural) using multistage sampling and observed the availability and marketing of tobacco products at retailers within 100 m of urban schools and 250 m of rural schools in 2021 and 2023. McNemar and paired t-tests were conducted with school as unit of analysis.Results From 2021 to 2023, there was a significant decrease in prevalence of cigarette retailers around both urban schools (57.2% vs 47.1%, p<0.05) and rural schools (70.3% vs 62.8%, p<0.05). The prevalence of flavoured cigarette retailers significantly decreased around urban schools (42.8% vs 38.9%, p<0.05); however, it remained high (52%) around rural schools. The total number of e-cigarette retailers decreased from 59 to 11. Over 90% of cigarette and e-cigarette retailers displayed tobacco products. While the prevalence of retailers displaying cigarettes inside significantly declined around urban schools (55.5% vs 44.6%, p<0.001), the prevalence of retailers displaying cigarettes next to sweets, drinks or snacks significantly increased (28.0% vs 32.1%, p<0.05).Conclusions The number of retailers selling and displaying cigarettes and flavoured cigarettes decreased but remained widespread, and the number of retailers selling e-cigarettes also decreased near schools in 10 cities across China. To protect youth, effective enforcement of regulations prohibiting tobacco sales around schools, a comprehensive advertising ban and restrictions on flavoured cigarettes are necessary.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Qinghua Nian"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Jennifer L Brown"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Elizabeth Crespi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, China"
      ],
      "name": "Shuai Zhang"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Rusi Long"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA"
      ],
      "name": "Joanna E Cohen"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Tobacco sales and marketing at points-of-sale near schools remain widespread in China: an observational study in 2021 and 2023",
  "uid": "7f9167d5-dd03-50f0-b83f-8c17ad6e8833"
}