Abstract
Background: Smoking among adolescents is high. In order to curb the habit, restrictions on use of tobacco products in public places were implemented in South Africa. This study aimed to explore students’ perceptions of whether the implementation of smoking restrictions and no-smoking signs have had any effects on smoking behaviours on campus.
 
 Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted amongst university students, who completed a self-administered questionnaire.
 
 Results: Students were aware that smoking causes disease and that second-hand smoke is dangerous. The majority were pleased that there was a smoking regulation in effect, but disagreed that it created a healthier atmosphere. Many would like a total ban enforced in restaurants, clubs, bars and university campuses. They felt that there were insufficient non-smoking signs in public areas. Many smokers stated that they ignored regulations and only a minority stated that the policy encouraged smokers to quit. 
 
 Conclusion: Smoking among students has decreased over the years. This has been accompanied by an increase in knowledge of the harmful effects of smoking. Regulations have thus had a positive effect; however, additional efforts are required to motivate more people to quit smoking altogether and to prevent young people from taking up the habit.
 
 (Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)
 
 S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2016.1254930
Highlights
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in developed countries and the third leading cause of death in South Africa, where 38% of adolescents have tried smoking.[1]
This study aimed to explore students’ perceptions of whether the implementation of smoking restrictions and no-smoking signs have had any effects on smoking behaviours on campus
It has led to an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory problems.[2,3]. Due to these adverse effects on health, restrictions on the use of tobacco products in public places were implemented in South Africa by the enactment of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act of 1999 (TPCAA), which limited smoking to certain areas of restaurants, clubs, shopping centres and other public places.[4]
Summary
Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in developed countries and the third leading cause of death in South Africa, where 38% of adolescents have tried smoking.[1] It has led to an increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory problems.[2,3] Due to these adverse effects on health, restrictions on the use of tobacco products in public places were implemented in South Africa by the enactment of the Tobacco Products Control Amendment Act of 1999 (TPCAA), which limited smoking to certain areas of restaurants, clubs, shopping centres and other public places.[4] This law, which prohibited smoking in the general area of these public places, was predominantly for the well-being of second-hand smokers and did not encourage people to stop smoking altogether.[5] It was not accompanied by an educational campaign to raise awareness of the detrimental effects of smoking on health.[6]. Regulations have had a positive effect; additional efforts are required to motivate more people to quit smoking altogether and to prevent young people from taking up the habit
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