In prior research, a high risk subpopulation of young adults was identified in San Diego, CA: the "hipster" subculture. We developed a yearlong pilot social branding intervention to decrease smoking among this group, using social events and social leaders to promote a strong nonsmoking lifestyle. The intervention rationale is based on utilizing industry market research tools to define the target audience and directly countering tobacco industry lifestyle marketing strategies. We now propose to extend this intervention to three other cities (tailoring the intervention to a high-risk subpopulation of young adults in each city) and evaluate it in a multicenter quasi-experimental controlled trial.

Survey research data will be collected in control cities with the same schedule as data collection in the cities where the intervention is taking place.

We will utilize industry market research tools to define the target audience (segment of community with high smoking prevalence and high social influence) and directly counter tobacco industry lifestyle marketing strategies through local promotion of a smokefree brand and branded bar and club events.

The main outcome measure for this analysis will be the proportion of current smoking, defined as self-reported smoking on one or more of the past 30 days.