Scoping the vape retail environment and retailers' responses to vape control measures in selected Auckland suburbs with different levels of socio-economic deprivation.

The article examines the distribution and characteristics of specialist vape retailers (SVRs), including "store-within-a-store" (SWAS) outlets, across selected Auckland suburbs with varying socio-economic deprivation levels. Using Google Maps and other data sources, the study identified 160 SVRs, finding that 44% were SWAS outlets predominantly located in high socio-economic deprivation suburbs with large Māori and Pacific populations. Over half of SVRs were within 300 meters of educational institutions, raising concerns about youth exposure to vaping products. The findings highlight that SWAS retailers, often attached to convenience stores, may undermine regulatory efforts aimed at reducing youth vaping and suggest policy measures to restrict SWAS operations to balance adult access to vaping products with youth protection.