RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: to examine whether a college student's exposure to tobacco marketing in nightclubs and bars was affected by the presence of a smoke-free law. PARTICIPANTS: a random sample (N = 478) of students participated in the survey (no smoke-free law, n = 240; smoke-free law, n = 238). The analysis was limited to students who reported being in nightclubs and bars (n = 171). METHODS: a nonexperimental, cross-sectional, 2-group design was used. RESULTS: students in the smoke-free law city were more likely to be approached by tobacco marketers (34.7% versus 20.2%, p = .02), offered free gifts (41.7% versus 24.2%, p = .02), and take free gifts for themselves (34.7% versus 19.2%, p = .02). They were more likely to be exposed to direct marketing strategies (1.83 versus 1.12, p = .02). There was no difference on indirect tobacco marketing by site. CONCLUSIONS: tobacco marketing is pervasive in nightclubs and bars. Smoke-free laws may protect against exposure to secondhand smoke but not the "pro" smoking messages students encounter.