Banning tobacco sales in supermarkets: an evaluation of compliance and tobacco availability near supermarkets in three Dutch cities.

Summary: In July 2024, the Netherlands made a new rule: supermarkets can no longer sell tobacco. Researchers wanted to see if stores followed the rule and if people could still buy tobacco nearby. They checked 114 supermarkets in three cities before and after the ban. The good news? Every single supermarket followed the rule! Also, there were 31% fewer places selling tobacco near the supermarkets. However, special tobacco shops popped up more often. So, while there are fewer places to buy tobacco overall, it is still pretty easy to find a shop close to the grocery store.