Tobacco point-of-sale advertising in Guatemala City, Guatemala and Buenos Aires, Argentina

Convenience stores (120 per city) were chosen from randomly selected blocks in low, middle and high socioeconomic neighbourhoods to assess point of sale tobacco advertising. Compared to Guatemala, ‘No sales to minors’ signs were more prevalent in Argentina. Tobacco advertising is highly prevalent in both Guatemala City, and Buenos Aires. In Guatemala, 60% of stores had cigarette ads and high and middle socioeconomic status neighbourhood stores had more indoor cigarette ads. In Argentina, 80% of stores had cigarette ads and few differences were observed by neighbourhood socioeconomic status. An advertising ban should include point of sale advertising