One for every 113 inhabitants: cigarette vending machines in Germany

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Sirs—Prevalence of smoking is high in Germany1 and young people, especially, show one of the highest smoking prevalences in Europe.2 This is mainly due to the lack of efficient tobacco control measures in Germany,3 e.g. the widespread availability of cigarettes through vending machines. Germany has probably the highest distribution of cigarette vending machines in the world per capita with 726 000 vending placed all over the country in 20044: There is one cigarette vending machine for every 113 inhabitants. While 39.3% of these vending machines are located indoors, e.g. bars and restaurants with little social control for adolescents, the majority 60.7% is located outdoors. This is crucial because the use of these machines does not have any social control and, thus, cigarettes are easily available to children and adolescents also.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: