Tobacco retail licensing and density 3 years after license regulations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2012–2019)

Objectives. To evaluate changes in licensed tobacco retailers and retailer density 5 years before and 3 years after novel tobacco retailer licensing regulations were implemented in a large, urban area. Methods. We used administrative tobacco license data (n = 23 806 licenses, 2012–2019) to calculate (1) annual retailer density by district (n = 18), (2) density by district and school income status, and (3) retailers within 500 feet of schools (n = 673) before and after regulations. Results. Observed tobacco retailer density declined by 20.3% (from 1.97 to 1.57 per 1000 daytime residents) 3 years after regulation implementation. Regression results showed a decline in the trend of retailers per 1000 daytime population (b = –0.19; 95% confidence interval[CI] = –0.23, –0.14) that was modestly but significantly greater in low-income districts (interaction b = –0.18; 95% CI = –0.25, –0.11) and a 12% decline in the rates of retailers near schools (rate ratio = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.85, 0.92) following implementation of the regulations. We did not observe similar density changes in comparable cities. Conclusions. Tobacco retailer licensing strategies can be an effective policy approach to reduce the availability of tobacco and tobacco marketing, lessen socioeconomic disparities in tobacco retailer density, and decrease the number of tobacco outlets near schools.