Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2002 Mar;92(3):414-9.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.92.3.414.

Smooth moves: bar and nightclub tobacco promotions that target young adults

Edward Sepe  1 , Pamela M Ling, Stanton A Glantz
Affiliations

Smooth moves: bar and nightclub tobacco promotions that target young adults

Edward Sepe et al. Am J Public Health. 2002 Mar.

Abstract

Objectives: This article describes the tobacco industry's use of bars and nightclubs to encourage smoking among young adults.

Methods: Previously secret tobacco industry marketing documents were analyzed.

Results: Tobacco industry bar and nightclub promotions in the 1980s and 1990s included aggressive advertising, tobacco brand--sponsored activities, and distribution of samples. Financial incentives for club owners and staff were used to encourage smoking through peer influence. Increased use of these strategies occurred concurrently with an increase in smoking among persons aged 18 through 24 years.

Conclusions: The tobacco industry's bar and nightclub promotions are not yet politically controversial and are not regulated by the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement between the industry and the states. Tobacco control advocates should include young adults in research and advocacy efforts and should design interventions to counter this industry strategy to solidify smoking patterns and recruit young adult smokers.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Sepe E, Glantz SA. Tobacco promotions in the alternative press: targeting young adults. Am J Public Health. 2002;92:75–78. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cruz T, Weiner M, Schuster D, Unger J. Growth of tobacco-sponsored bars and clubs from 1996–2000. Paper presented at: Annual Meeting of the American Public Health Association; November 12–16, 2000; Boston, Mass.
    1. Carreon C. Cigarette clubs waft into Portland scene. The Oregonian. July 31, 1998:C01.
    1. Davis HL. A Party to Die For? Buffalo News. July 27, 1998:A4–A5.
    1. Gellene D. Joining the clubs: tobacco firms find a venue in bars. Los Angeles Times. September 25, 1997:D1–D3.

Publication types