E-cigarettes | Smoking paraphernalia | |
Total visibility score (out of 17) Mean (SD), range | 14.7 (1.8), 10–17 | 12.7 (1.8), 7–17 |
Number of display units | ||
1 display unit, % (N) | 47 (63) | 88 (117) |
>1 display unit, % (N) | 53 (70) | 12 (16) |
Presence of signage | ||
Present, % (N) | 62 (82) | 5 (7) |
Absent, % (N) | 38 (51) | 95 (126) |
Presence of visible pricing | ||
Present, % (N) | 70 (93) | 45 (60) |
Absent, % (N) | 30 (40) | 55 (73) |
Relative size* | ||
Larger, % (N) | 11 (15) | 3 (4) |
Same size, % (N) | 12 (16) | 2 (2) |
Smaller, % (N) | 74 (99) | 93 (123) |
Separate, % (N) | 2 (3) | 3 (4) |
Presence of promotional material | ||
Present, % (N) | 53 (71) | – |
Absent, % (N) | 47 (62) | – |
Data are reported as mean (SD), range; or percentage (number).
Thirty-one convenience stores from the initial sample were excluded (52% permanently closed; 48% not selling e-cigarettes or smoking paraphernalia). Replacement stores matched by postcode district to the excluded stores were randomly selected from the total list of convenience stores. The visibility checklist was not completed in 15 stores from the initial sample (nine supermarkets and six convenience stores: 40% manager declined; 27% no reason; 13% manager absent; 13% too busy; and 7% manager-perceived unsuitability). A smaller number of supermarkets were located in areas of high deprivation, and refusals resulted in a smaller number of checklists being completed in these supermarkets.
*Compared with the tobacco storage unit.
SD, standard deviation.