Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113703

Brian C. Kelly, PhD¹, Joseph C. Punzalan¹, Jeffrey T. Parsons, PhD², Brooke E. Wells, MA³, and PARTY Team¹. (1) Center for HIV Educational Studies and Training, Hunter College/CUNY, 250 W 26th St, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001, (2) Psychology Department, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10021, (3) Social Personality Psychology, The Graduate Center at The City University of New York, Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training, 250 W. 26th St., Ste 300, New York, NY 10001, 212-206-7919, bwells@hunter.cuny.edu

Background: Smoking bans have attracted wide attention over the last several years. In March 2003, New York City implemented legislation calling for a ban of smoking in bars, nightclubs, and other nightlife-related establishments. The widely discussed threat of decline in nightlife, has not materialized.

Methods: The investigators utilized time-space sampling to generate a probability-based sample of 492 club-going young adults. Respondents provided data on smoking behavior, support for the smoking ban, and a range of key demographic variables.

Results: The authors found that 38.2% of the sample of club-going young adults were smokers. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young adults were significantly more likely to smoke than heterosexuals (OR=2.2, p<.001). No significant differences in smoking rates were found between genders or between whites and non-whites. Not surprisingly, there were significant differences in support for the recent New York City smoking ban between smokers and non-smokers (59.1% vs. 78.3%, p<.001). Yet, it remains substantial that among smokers a majority (59.1%) support the smoking ban. Furthermore, all non-smokers do not support the ban, as 21.4% of them disagree with it. No significant differences in support for the ban were found by gender, race, or sexual identity.

Discussion: Sexual identity plays a more significant role in smoking behaviors than gender or racial identity. Yet, people of various gender, race, and sexual identities do not differ with respect to support for the smoking ban. Wide support for the indoor smoking ban exists, even amongst smokers.

Learning Objectives:

• Poster readers will be able to articulate the details of recent New York City smoking ban, to understand the basic epidemiology of smoking among club-going young adults, and to assess the range of attitudes towards the ban among young adults.

Keywords: Tobacco Policy, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.