Restricting licences to sell tobacco in Tasmania's lowest socio-economic areas might help reduce smoking, according to a new study.

Key points: There is one tobacco retailer for every 650 Tasmanians

There is one tobacco retailer for every 650 Tasmanians Density of outlets is 79 per cent greater regional and remote areas

Density of outlets is 79 per cent greater regional and remote areas Poorest suburbs or towns have more than twice the outlets than the least disadvantaged

The study looked at the availability of tobacco in Tasmania, and found easier access was likely to contribute to tobacco-related harm.

No Australian state or territory currently restricts the number or location of tobacco retailers.

The research, published in the Medical Journal of Australia, analysed tobacco retail outlet data according to remoteness and socio-economic status.

Shannon Melody from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research said as of December 2016, 769 tobacco licences had been issued in Tasmania, an average of 1.54 tobacco retailers per 1,000 residents, or one outlet per 650 Tasmanians.

"The density of outlets was 79 per cent greater in suburbs or towns in outer-regional, remote, and very remote Tasmania than in inner-regional Tasmania," she said.

"Suburbs or towns in Tasmania with the greatest socio-economic disadvantage had more than twice the number of tobacco outlets per 1,000 people as areas of least disadvantage."

Dr Melody said the results were not surprising, but they could help guide policy reform.

"We certainly know that people who face socio-economic hardship are more likely to smoke, and we certainly know that people who live in rural and remote areas are more likely to smoke," she said.

"But it is certainly useful to characterise where tobacco is available because it gives us information about moving forward in terms of efforts to further reduce smoking and to make evidence-based policy decisions."

More research on licence restrictions necessary

Dr Melody said the study raised questions about whether a policy of licence restriction based on socio-economic status should be considered.

"Individuals of low socio-economic status are most sensitive to changes in tobacco pricing," she said.

"As a result, tobacco retailing restrictions may be particularly effective in reducing smoking prevalence in areas of socio-economic disadvantage and may therefore have positive equity effects."

But Dr Melody said further research was needed.

"The unintended consequences of concentrating tobacco sales in fewer, larger outlets may result in discounted tobacco prices and encourage larger purchases by smokers for stockpiling," she said.

"Additionally, restricting outlets according to geographic region or socio-economic profile might be perceived as discriminatory."

The study noted that in California, zoning ordinances and conditional use permits had been introduced.

In 2014 San Francisco introduced a cap of 45 tobacco retailers per legislative district and banned outlets within 150 metres of schools.