
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 11, 1995                   TAG: 9502140004
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JUST A PINCH

Gov. George Allen may claim a mandate for his policies, but he's clearly in the minority on his favorite vice: chewing tobacco. Most of us have never wedged just a pinch between cheek and gum.

Have you ever chewed tobacco?

No 84%

Yes 16%

Who's chewed?

35% of men, only 5% of women

Not many of us have chewed, but among those who have, the habit cuts across all demographic lines.

The young and the old fill their cheeks at the same rate. High school drop-outs are only slightly more likely than college graduates to have chewed. And those making more than $40,000 are just as likely as those making less than $10,000 to have a jawful.

Ages 18-29: 16%

Ages 30-49: 18%

Ages 50-64: 18%

Age 65 and up: 13%

High school drop-outs: 18%

High school graduates: 17%

Some college: 15%

College graduates: 12%

Under $10,000: 15%

$10,000 to $19,999: 13%

$20,000 to $29,999: 21%

$30,000 to $39,999: 14%

$40,000 and up: 16%

Percentage of Franklin County Speedway-goers who have chewed: 31%

Percentage of Center in the Square-goers who have chewed: 16%

The Roanoke Valley Poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. Among demographic subgroups, the margin may be higher.

by CNB