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Lake County participates in statewide collaborative survey analyzing tobacco, alcohol and food in stores
LAKEPORT, Calif. – New data reveals that Lake County ranks higher than the state in percentage of stores that sell e-cigarettes.
This finding is part of new data released Wednesday on the availability and marketing of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy and healthy food products in stores that sell tobacco – the first time all three categories of products have been analyzed together.
The large survey collected information from more than 7,300 diverse retail stores – including convenience, supermarket, liquor, tobacco, small market, discount, drug and big-box stores – in all 58 counties, with the goal of shedding light on what products are available and promoted in our communities.
Nearly 700 public health representatives, community volunteers and youth participated in the survey, which was conducted from July through October 2013.
While Lake County have made important progress in reducing tobacco smoking among youth, the county still has room for improvement.
Data from the California Health Interview Survey showed a decline in smoking among youth from 17 percent to 9 percent between 2007 and 2009. More recent data from 2011 estimates that 10 percent of Lake County youth in grades ninth through twelfth smoke.
As youth transition to adulthood, smoking rates increase. Smoking among adults in Lake County is estimated at 28 percent – dramatically higher than the statewide rate of 13.8 percent of the adult population.
According to Lake County Health Officer Dr. Karen Tait, tobacco use is a major risk factor for the majority of health conditions that account for Lake County’s poor rankings in California’s county health profiles. These include a wide variety of cancers as well as cardiovascular disease.
“Reducing tobacco use is among the most important interventions we can make to improve our population’s health,” said Tait. “Although reducing smoking at any age is beneficial, we think that working with youth to promote healthful behaviors is the most effective way of influencing lifelong patterns that define health.”
Research shows that children are highly influenced by marketing of products like tobacco and alcohol, even more so than peer pressure. Their choices now could lead to either a healthy lifestyle or to obesity, chronic disease and even death, according to health officials.
The findings also show that electronic cigarettes are widely available in Lake County, concerning health officials and community partners.
More than 47 percent of stores sell e-cigarettes. Statewide, the number of stores selling e-cigarettes quadrupled in the last two years, from 11.5 percent in 2011 to 45.7 percent in 2013.
The survey includes state, regional and county level data with new insights on the density of stores selling tobacco and their proximity to schools; types of tobacco and alcohol products being sold; advertising and placement of such products in stores; the availability of e-cigarettes; and the availability and promotion of unhealthy and healthy food options including low- or non-fat milk and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Additional survey findings in Lake County include:
- 71.1 percent of stores have unhealthy exterior advertising while only 5.7 percent have healthy exterior advertising.
- Flavored non-cigarette tobacco products available in 92.5 percent of stores.
- 42.3 percent of stores are selling good quality fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Alcohol ads are being placed three feet and below at 47.1 percent of stores.
The data release also marks the launch of Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community, a statewide campaign – formed by tobacco prevention, nutrition and alcohol prevention partners working in collaboration – to improve the health of Californians by informing them about the impacts of unhealthy product marketing in the retail environment.
For state, regional and county specific data and more information on Healthy Stores for a Healthy Community, visit www.HealthyStoresHealthyCommunity.com .