A CDC survey of 642 Massachusetts youths showed that 40 percent had smoked bidis. In San Francisco, the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center polled students in four schools and determined that 58 percent had smoked bidis. Both studies were done in 1999. Tom Earp, who runs the Tobacco Road Smoke Shop at 8155 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kan., said he was doing a brisk bidi business. His shop never sells tobacco products to minors, he said, but he sees why bidis would appeal to youngsters.
Kids probably think they're pretty cool.
Another problem health officials see with bidis is that by being sold in ethnic food stores, surf shops and skater shops, they sometimes escape the scrutiny of regulations that prohibit sales to minors. That is a terrible oversight, Eriksen said, because bidis actually pose greater health risks than regular cigarettes, partly because bidis are not tightly packed, meaning they are difficult to keep lighted. They inhale more smoke, more toxins, more tar, more nicotine and ultimately more carcinogens into the lungs.