INTRODUCTION On May 9, 2016, the State of California passed a law to increase the licensing fee for tobacco retailers from a one-time-only fee of $100 to an annual fee of $265, effective on June 9, 2016. This study investigates the association between this fee increase and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity characteristics. METHODS We obtained quarterly data on the number of active tobacco retailer licenses from 2011 to 2020 in every zip code in California from the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA). These data were then linked to zip code-level income, race/ethnicity, and population measures. We used a single group segmented interrupted time series analysis to assess the association between the increase in licensing fees and retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity. RESULTS After the implementation of the annual licensing fees, the retailer density decreased both immediately and gradually. Specifically, the retailer density dropped by 0.47 in the first quarter following the intervention. Compared to the pre-intervention time trend, the retailer density decreased quarterly by 0.05. Furthermore, the impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and the majority Black zip codes. CONCLUSIONS Given that higher smoking prevalence is associated with greater tobacco outlet density, the licensing fee increase could be an effective policy tool to reduce tobacco use among economically disadvantaged and minority Black communities, thereby addressing tobacco use disparities. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS •This study used the single group segmented interrupted time series analysis to assess the association between the licensing fee increase and tobacco retailer densities by neighborhood income and race/ethnicity.•We found that this licensing fee increase was associated with reduced retailer densities and the total number of active retailers right after the implementation.yWe further found that the annual licensing fee policy had a continuous effect in reducing tobacco retailer densities in all zip codes.•The impacts of increasing licensing fees were more pronounced in low-income and majority Black zip codes.

中文翻译：

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加利福尼亚州许可费增加与烟草零售商密度之间的关联 - 按收入和种族/民族进行的分段中断时间序列分析。

简介 2016 年 5 月 9 日，加利福尼亚州通过了一项法律，将烟草零售商的许可费从 100 美元的一次性费用提高到 265 美元的年费，并于 2016 年 6 月 9 日生效。这种费用增加与社区收入和种族/民族特征的零售商密度之间的关联。方法 我们从加州税费管理局 (CDTFA) 获取了 2011 年至 2020 年加州每个邮政编码的活跃烟草零售商许可证数量的季度数据。然后将这些数据与邮政编码级别的收入、种族/民族和人口指标联系起来。我们使用单组分段中断时间序列分析来评估许可费增加与社区收入和种族/民族的零售商密度之间的关联。结果实行年度许可费后，零售商密度立即下降并逐渐下降。具体而言，干预后第一季度零售商密度下降了0.47。与干预前趋势相比，零售商密度季度下降0.05。此外，许可费增加的影响在低收入和大多数黑人邮政编码中更为明显。结论 鉴于较高的吸烟率与较高的烟草店密度相关，增加许可费可能是减少经济弱势群体和少数黑人社区烟草使用的有效政策工具，从而解决烟草使用差异。本研究的补充内容•本研究使用单组分段中断时间序列分析来评估许可费增加与按社区收入和种族/民族划分的烟草零售商密度之间的关联。•我们发现许可费增加与零售商减少有关实施后的密度和活跃零售商总数。y我们进一步发现，年度许可费政策对降低所有邮政编码的烟草零售商密度有持续的影响。•增加许可费的影响在低收入地区更为明显和大多数黑人邮政编码。