The poll, conducted by TNS Intersearch for ABCNews.com, found that 71 percent of nonwhites supported the proposal. In addition, 68 percent of adults with children favored increasing the legal age for cigarette buying.

The study further showed that women were more likely to support the proposal than men. Furthermore, 60 percent of those ages 18 to 34 support the change, while 65 percent of those 35 and older favor the proposal.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 80 percent of adult smokers started before age 18. In addition, an estimated 5,000 children under 18 try their first cigarette every day.

The telephone survey of 1,025 adults nationwide was conducted June 5-9, 2002.

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