Six Out Of Ten Adults Surveyed Prefer Smoke-free Bars and
Clubs
Witeck-Combs Communications/Harris Interactive® survey
also shows that 34% of gay adults continue to smoke cigarettes compared
to 24% of heterosexual adults
Rochester, NY—January 13, 2003—When asked in a recent survey whether
or not they would prefer smoke-free bars and clubs, 59% of adults nationwide,
including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT), said they
preferred a smoke-free environment. According to these latest survey results
released by Witeck-Combs Communications and Harris Interactive®,
when asked if they would be willing to pay an additional cover charge for their
favorite bar or club to be smoke-free, 70% of GLBT respondents who indicated
that they prefer smoke-free bars and clubs said they would be willing to pay
more for that environment. In contrast, only 52% of heterosexual respondents who
indicated the same preference said they would be willing to pay an additional
cover charge.
"The good news is, lesbians and gays seem willing to put their money
where their mouths are when it comes to eliminating smoke in bars and clubs not
yet covered by smoke-free laws," said Colleen Dermody, vice president of
Witeck-Combs Communications. "The bad news is that 34% of gays are still
smoking cigarettes despite 2001 survey results which showed 98% of GLBT smokers
and tobacco chewers understand that smoking increases their risk of lung cancer
and heart disease. They know smoking is unhealthy, but, according to these
latest results, a third of them continues to smoke."
Some key findings from this survey include:
- Overall, 89% of the GLBT adults surveyed said they have not seen an
anti-smoking education or awareness campaign targeted toward them.
- 34% of GLBT adults surveyed said they smoke cigarettes, as compared to 24%
of heterosexual adults.
- Of those who said they smoke cigarettes, 47% of GLBT adults and 36% of
heterosexual adults smoke more than one pack each day.
- Only seven percent (7%) of GLBT adults and eight percent (8%) of
heterosexual adults said that they smoke a pipe or cigars or use chewing
tobacco.
"This survey underscores the critical need for anti-smoking awareness
and education campaigns developed by and targeted to the GLBT community,"
said Kathleen DeBold, executive director of the Mautner Project**, the national
lesbian health organization.
"Until as much effort is put into GLBT smoking cessation as the tobacco
companies devote to getting people hooked, gay adults will continue to die from
tobacco-related diseases and our young people will continue to fall prey to
tobacco industry greed," concluded DeBold.
As the number of smoke-free public spaces grows, Delaware has become the
latest state and New York City the latest major city to enact comprehensive
restrictions on smoking, including in bars and restaurants. As of December 2002,
two states and 1,595 municipalities (including all municipalities in California
and Delaware) prohibit smoking in freestanding bars, four states ban smoking in
restaurants, and four states ban smoking in enclosed workplaces.*
* Municipalities with 100% Smoke-free Ordinances, December 9, 2002. American
Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation, http://www.no-smoke.org,
Copyright 1998-2002.
**The Mautner Project will be conducting further research on lesbians who
smoke and will lead an anti-smoking campaign for lesbians aged forty and over in
2003.
Notes on reading tables
GLBT refers to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender respondents. The
percentage of respondents has been included for each item. An asterisk (*)
signifies a value of less than one-half percent. A dash represents a value of
zero. Percentages may not always add up to 100% because of computer rounding or
the acceptance of multiple answers from respondents answering that question.
TABLE 1
WHETHER SMOKE CIGARETTES
"Do you smoke cigarettes?"
Base: All adults
| |
Total |
GLBT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
24 |
34 |
24 |
|
No |
76 |
66 |
76 |
TABLE 2
WHETHER SMOKE PIPE OR CIGARS, OR USE CHEWING TABACCO
"Do you smoke a pipe or cigars, or use chewing
tobacco?"
Base: All adults
| |
Total |
GLBT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
8 |
7 |
8 |
|
No |
92 |
93 |
92 |
TABLE 3
NUMBER OF CIGARETTES SMOKED PER DAY
"In the past 30 days, on average, how many cigarettes did
you smoke each day?"
Base: Smoke cigarettes
|
No. of cigarettes smoked |
Total |
GBLT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
Less than one cigarette |
5 |
- |
6 |
|
1 cigarette |
* |
- |
* |
|
2 to 5 cigarettes |
8 |
3 |
9 |
|
6 to 10 cigarettes |
13 |
17 |
11 |
|
11 to 15 cigarettes |
10 |
7 |
10 |
|
16 to 20 cigarettes |
27 |
27 |
29 |
|
Between one and two packs |
33 |
37 |
33 |
|
More than two packs |
4 |
10 |
3 |
Note: Some caution should be used when drawing conclusions from this
table because the sample size for GLBT respondents is a small base.
TABLE 4
PREFERENCE FOR SMOKE-FREE BARS AND CLUBS
"Would you prefer smoke-free bars and clubs?"
Base: All adults
| |
Total |
GLBT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
59 |
59 |
59 |
|
No |
41 |
41 |
41 |
TABLE 5
AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL COVER CHARGE WILLING TO PAY
"How much of an additional cover charge would you be
willing to pay if your favorite bar/club were smoke-free?"
Base: Prefer smoke-free bars and clubs
|
Cost willing to pay |
Total |
GBLT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
$0 |
48 |
31 |
48 |
|
$1 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
|
$2 |
8 |
6 |
8 |
|
$3 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
$4 |
* |
4 |
* |
|
$5 |
22 |
33 |
21 |
|
More than $5 |
10 |
15 |
11 |
|
Mean |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
Median |
1 |
4 |
1 |
Note: Some caution should be used when drawing conclusions from this table
because the sample size for GLBT respondents is a small base.
TABLE 6
WHETHER SEEN OR HEARD ANTI-SMOKING MESSAGES AIMED AT GLBT
"Have you ever seen or heard any anti-smoking messages
that you thought may be aimed at people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, or
transgender?"
Base: GLBT
| |
Total |
GLBT |
Heterosexual |
| |
% |
% |
% |
|
Yes |
11 |
11 |
NA |
|
No |
89 |
89 |
NA |
Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris
Interactive between November 22 and December 2, 2002, among a nationwide cross
section of 2,221 adults. Of those adults surveyed, 159, or approximately seven
percent (7%), self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT).
Figures for age, sex, race, education and number of adults in the household were
weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions
in the population. "Propensity score" weighting was also used to
adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.
In theory, with a probability sample of this size, one can say with 95
percent certainty that the results have a statistical precision of plus or minus
two percentage points of what they would be if the entire adult population had
been polled with complete accuracy. Unfortunately, there are several other
possible sources of error in all polls or surveys that are probably more serious
than theoretical calculations of sampling error. They include refusals to be
interviewed (non-response), question wording and question order, interviewer
bias, weighting by demographic control data and screening (e.g., for likely
voters). It is impossible to quantify the errors that may result from these
factors. This online survey is not a probability sample.
These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National
Council on Public Polls.
About Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc.
Witeck-Combs Communications, Inc. (www.witeckcombs.com)
is the nation’s premier strategic marketing communications firm, specializing
in reaching the gay and lesbian consumer market. With over nine years experience
in this unique market, Witeck-Combs Communications has developed respected
relationships throughout the community and serves as a bridge between corporate
America and gay and lesbian consumers. The Gay Financial Network (gfn.com) has
twice identified Bob Witeck and Wesley Combs as two of the nation’s
twenty-five most influential openly gay business executives.
About Harris Interactive®
Harris Interactive (www.harrisinteractive.com) is a worldwide market research
and consulting firm best known for The Harris Poll®,
and for pioneering the Internet method to conduct scientifically accurate
market research. Headquartered in Rochester, New York, U.S.A., Harris
Interactive combines proprietary methodologies and technology with expertise in
predictive, custom and strategic research. The Company conducts international
research through wholly owned subsidiaries—London-based HI Europe
(www.hieurope.com) and Tokyo-based Harris Interactive Japan—as well as through
the Harris Interactive Global Network of local market-and opinion-research
firms, and various U.S. offices. EOE M/F/D/V
To become a member of the Harris Poll OnlineSM and be invited to
participate in future online surveys, visit www.harrispollonline.com.
Press Contacts:
Nancy Wong
Harris Interactive
585-214-7316
nwong@harrisinteractive.com
Colleen Dermody
Witeck-Combs Communications
202-887-0500 ext. 18
cdermody@witeckcombs.com
|
