Tobacco Marketing at Point-of-Sale in Ontario

The retail point-of-sale environment provides important opportunities for tobacco industry communication with current, former, and potential smokers. Point-of-sale marketing is one of the few remaining communication vehicles available to the tobacco industry in Canada. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act will eliminate countertop displays and power wall “enhancements” on May 31, 2006, with a complete elimination of tobacco retail displays by May 31, 2008. This Update highlights findings from OTRU’s Tobacco Marketing at Point-of-Sale Study which was undertaken to improve understanding of current tobacco industry marketing strategies and activities at point-of-sale in Ontario.