Larger and private colleges and universities more likely to attract hookah establishments

Larger and private colleges and universities more likely to attract hookah establishments


Hookah smoking lounges and bars are concentrated around larger and private universities across the U.S. This poses a health risk to college students, as hookah boasts enticing flavors and an undeserved healthy reputation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hookah contains many of the same harmful toxins as cigarette smoke and has been associated with lung cancer, respiratory illness and periodontal disease.

University of Florida Health researchers mapped the locations of hookah establishments nationwide and found that campus smoke-free policies decrease the odds of such bars and lounges setting up shop near campuses.

This is especially important as hookah bars appeal to young adults who have not reached the legal drinking age, and the industry is unregulated. A greater density of hookah establishments may promote hookah smoking, just as higher numbers of tobacco retailers have been associated with higher levels of cigarette smoking.

Among the colleges and universities in the study, thirty-eight percent had at least one establishment that offered hookah within three miles. When examining differences by the size of the institution, seventy-five percent of institutions with more than twenty-thousand full-time students had at least one establishment within three miles.

In addition, hookah establishments were almost twice as likely to be located near private institutions compared with public institutions. This could be due to the increased purchasing power of students who attend private institutions.

However, both private and public institutions with smoke-free campus policies were almost half as likely to have a hookah establishment within three miles. That shows the positive impacts that anti-smoking policies can have beyond campus borders.

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