Methods: A cross-sectional telephone survey of Florida households and a single state University was conducted in 2005. Participants between 18-25 years of age completed a 15 minute interview assessing past and current SHS exposures and attitude/beliefs about the effects of tobacco use and exposure (N=1,858).

Results: Fifty-nine percent of the sample were women; 69% of the sample were non-Hispanic white; 10% non-Hispanic Black; and 12% Hispanic. Average age was 21 years. Approximately two-thirds of respondents had some college, while 9% did not complete high school. Most respondents reported a household smoking ban (87%). The majority of respondents reported having a high amount of awareness of hazardous effects of SHS (84%). Forty-nine percent disagreed with the tobacco industry solution to the hazards of SHS. Of those employed part-time, 24% responded they were exposed to SHS at work. Using the CDC definition of a current smoker, 23% of young adults reported smoking in the past 30 days, while the majority were nonsmokers. In the multivariable regression knowledge of tobacco health effects, higher educational attainment, and no reported cigarette smoking were associated with smoking bans.

Conclusions: Educational interventions to increase household smoking bans in young adults are needed.