A joint study conducted by the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow has shown that children from deprived areas are six times more likely to be exposed to tobacco retailers than children from less deprived areas.
Researchers from the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh used GPS trackers to follow a sample group of approximately 700 children aged between 10 and 11 across the country to study their exposure to tobacco.
They found that children from the most deprived areas were exposed to tobacco retailing (coming within 10 metres of a shop selling tobacco) around 149 times per week - higher than the 23 times that those from the least deprived areas.
In contrast to this; the map indicates that fewer than one in ten residents are addicted to tobacco in less deprived areas.
This suggests a correlation between the number of children exposed to tobacco retailers in deprived areas and the number of tobacco users in deprived areas.
Dr Fiona Caryl from the University of Glasgow said: "Our findings provide a significant contribution to the policy debate on tobacco availability. "Identifying ways to reverse the normalising effects of ubiquitous tobacco retailing is key to policies aimed at preventing people from starting smoking."
Professor Jamie Pearce from the University of Edinburgh said:
"This exciting and novel work suggests any moves to reduce tobacco availability, whether to reduce the number of retail outlets, or restrict the timing of sales, will have a greater benefit for more deprived groups who suffer the greatest amount of tobacco-related harm."
Joseph Carter, of the British Lung Foundation Scotland, said that measures to further restrict the availability of tobacco should be considered.
Mr Carter said: "If you live in a deprived area, you are three times more likely to die from lung cancer in Scotland. Clearly tobacco availability is playing a significant role in driving the stark inequality in deaths from smoking-related lung disease.
"We simply can't accept a situation where children living in the most deprived areas should be exposed to these harmful products. We need to consider measures to further restrict the availability of tobacco, such as raising the age restriction at which you can purchase it to 21.
"Lung disease is Scotland's biggest killer and tobacco plays a huge part in people developing COPD and lung cancer in later life. Preventing people from taking up smoking in the first place is essential to give everyone in Scotland the chance to live well with healthy lungs."
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