Vape stores clustered around schools and in the most disadvantaged suburbs, Australian study finds

Researchers from the University of Notre Dame Australia found vape store density was nearly seven times higher in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas compared with wealthier suburbs. Photograph: Alamy

Vape stores are concentrated around schools and in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, Australian researchers have shown for the first time in an audit of dedicated shops in Western Australia.

The study led by researchers from the University of Notre Dame Australia and published on Wednesday in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health found almost nine out of 10 vape stores were within walking distance of schools.