Comprehensive Ban Research Articles

Calculating potential impact fractions to assess the impact of tobacco control policies

Abstract This presentation will provide a straightforward and accessible method for evaluating the effectiveness of various tobacco control policies in reducing the smoking-associated disease burden. To estimate numbers and proportions of potentially avoidable disease cases under different policy intervention scenarios (such as cigarette tax/price increases, comprehensive marketing ban, and plain packaging), this approach entails the calculation of age- and sex-specific potential impact fractions, representing the percentage change in disease risk following changes in exposure to smoking. The approach can account for lag and latency periods between reductions in smoking prevalence and declines in disease excess risks. The future disease burden is estimated by combining data on the incidence or mortality of the disease of interest, published effect sizes of tobacco control policies, and national smoking prevalence data. Intervention scenarios are compared against a status quo scenario that assumes the continuation of recent smoking trends. The presentation will outline the approach, using the example of smoking-associated cancer, and discuss model assumptions, required data, and sensitivity analyses. This straightforward modelling framework enables the comparison of different health policy measures’ impacts, providing valuable insights for policymakers and public health officials regarding the potential public health impact of tobacco control policy measures.

Does the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy in All Natural Forests Affect Farmers’ Income?—An Empirical Study Based on County-Level Data in China

The Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy (CCLBP) in natural forests as the strictest forest conservation measure brings uncertainty to the income of farmers engaged in forest land management. Therefore, clarifying the impact and heterogeneity of the CCLBP on farmers’ income has become a significant issue of current concern. Based on county-level panel data from China covering the period 2000–2020, this study uses Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) to identify the impact of the CCLBP on farmers’ income. The empirical results show that (1) the CCLBP has a significantly positive effect on farmers’ income, with the policy leading to an increase in farmers’ income of approximately RMB 411–582; (2) the impact of the CCLBP on farmers’ income exhibits regional heterogeneity, with significant positive effects observed in Hebei, Shandong, Hubei, and Shaanxi, significant negative effects observed in Guangxi, and insignificant effects observed in other provinces; and (3) the CCLBP not only promotes the development of non-agricultural industries and labor mobility but also effectively reduces capital outflow, thereby increasing farmers’ income. This study contributes to the understanding of the underlying mechanisms between the CCLBP and farmers’ income, and it has significant practical implications for promoting the increase in farmers’ income, narrowing the income gap among farmers, and achieving common prosperity. It can also provide valuable insights and guidance for global forest protection.

The Impact of New Jersey's 2020 E-Cigarette Flavor Ban on E-Cigarette, Cigarette, and Cigar Sales in NJ.

On April 20, 2020, New Jersey (NJ) implemented a comprehensive ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. This study compares sales of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cigars before and after the law. Data were biweekly retailer scanner sales in NJ convenience stores for e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and cigars between August 2019 and December 2020. We used Joinpoint regression to assess sales trends for cigarettes (non-menthol, menthol), cigars (unflavored, flavored), and e-cigarettes (unflavored, fruit/sweet/concept flavor, menthol flavor) in the 36 weeks before and 36 weeks after a statewide ban on flavored e-cigarettes. Flavored e-cigarette sales, not including menthol, significantly decreased over the study period while menthol e-cigarette sales significantly increased until the e-cigarette flavor ban took effect, after which these sales rapidly declined through May 2020, then slowed. Unflavored e-cigarette sales declined through September 2019, then grew modestly until the flavored e-cigarette ban, after which sales significantly increased. Flavored cigar sales increased between March and May 2020, then declined; non-flavored cigar sales increased between mid-February and early July 2020, then declined. Cigarette sales were decreasing before the flavored e-cigarette ban but after, significantly increased until June 2020. Overall, there was no significant trend in the average biweekly percent change for cigarette sales. Flavored e-cigarette sales were declining prior to the ban but the pace of the decline accelerated following federal and state restrictions on flavored e-cigarette sales, then slowed by the second half of 2020, with a brief period of increased cigarette and cigar sales immediately following the ban. New Jersey's 2020 statewide e-cigarette flavor ban offered the opportunity to observe how sales of e-cigarette, cigarette, and cigar products shifted after the change. The effect of the state law, at least in the short-term, was decreased sales of flavored e-cigarettes and increased sales of unflavored e-cigarettes. Research on long term policy effects is needed.

From ritual to regulation: The ban on Nerium oleander L. in Kerala temples - A factual overview with an Ayurvedic perspective

Government-run Travancore and Malabar Devaswom boards overseeing Kerala’s 2500 temples have instituted a comprehensive ban on the usage of Nerium oleander L. flowers. Here, the authors examine the transition from traditional rituals to formal regulations, concerning the use of N. oleander in temples across Kerala. Traditionally revered in various religious ceremonies, N. oleander, a plant with both toxic and therapeutic properties, has recently faced a ban due to its potential health risks. This article provides a comprehensive factual overview of the reasons behind the ban and it delves into the Ayurvedic perspective on N. oleander, discussing its medicinal applications and the risks associated with its improper use. Although the toxicity of Nerium has been proven, the restriction on it has to be revisited on multiple levels, to fully comprehend the negative impact, this can have on the future of traditional medicine practice.

The Situation of Legal TranslationPost COVID-19

This research focused on the situation of legal translation post COVID-19. A quantitative research design is used with a questionnaire and 50 participants of the Jordanian and Algerian legal translators. The results of the research revealed that legal translation was affected strongly during COVID-19 and that according to the comprehensive ban and there was delay in the issues and legal transactions. But, at post COVID-19, there is a strong demand for legal translation, especially at the first period of stopping the comprehensive ban. Also, most of the legal documents were about immigration transactions to European countries according to the financial situation during and after COVID-19. Also, most of the customers were afraid of COVID-19, and stopped most of their legal operations and transactions until the end of COVID-19, and this directly affected the legal translation. Furthermore, the results revealed that the situation of legal translation became better and more active post COVID-19. As well, the researcher concluded that COVID-19 affected negatively on the legal translation and its effects stated to stop post COVID-19. Also, the comprehensive ban caused reduction of the work in the field of translation in general and in the field of legal translation specifically. As well, the active of legal translation backs to the normal situation post COVID-19.

Adopting a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control-Based Tobacco Control Law in Ethiopia: Sustained Transnational Health Advocacy and Multi-Sectoral Institutionalized Support.

The objective of this study was to document how Ethiopia adopted a WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC)-based tobacco control law. We analyzed publicly available documents, including news media articles, advocacy reports, and government documents. We triangulated these findings by interviewing nine key stakeholders. Data were analyzed to construct a historical and thematic narrative and analyzed through a retrospective policy analysis. Local and international health advocacy efforts helped introduce and support WHO FCTC-based legislation by (1) educating policymakers about the WHO FCTC, (2) providing legal assistance in drafting legislation, (3) generating local data to counter industry claims, and (4) producing media advocacy to expose industry activity. Health advocates worked closely with government officials to create a multi-sectoral tobacco committee to institutionalize efforts and insulate tobacco companies from the policymaking process. Japan Tobacco International bought majority shares of the government-owned tobacco company and attempted to participate in the process, using standard industry tactics to undermine legislative efforts. However, with health advocacy assistance, government officials were able to reject these attempts and adopt a WHO FCTC-based law in 2019 that included 100% smoke-free indoor places, a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, and large pictorial health warning labels, among other provisions. Sustained local health advocacy efforts supported by international technical and financial assistance can help establish WHO FCTC-based tobacco control laws. Applying a standardized multi-sectoral approach can establish coordinating mechanisms to further institutionalize the WHO FCTC as a legal tool to build support with other government sectors and insulate the tobacco industry from the policymaking process.

Comprehensive vaping bans are associated with lower odds of initiation into electronic nicotine delivery systems use among young people.

E-cigarette and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use has grown considerably over the past decade, with notable increases among young people. US state policy contexts for ENDS and tobacco may shape initiation into ENDS use among adolescents as they age into early adulthood. We aimed to determine whether state-level comprehensive vaping ban policies reduce the odds of youth initiation into ENDS use, net of additional state-level ENDS and tobacco policies, as well as the youth's cigarette smoking status. Longitudinal data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study were merged with a state-year database on tobacco and ENDS policies. Multivariable discrete-time event history models of ENDS initiation were estimated. United States. Twenty thousand twelve youth assessed over six waves from 2013 to 2019 (n = 53 974 observations). We examined comprehensive indoor vaping bans (i.e. 100% vape-free workplaces, restaurants and bars) as a key factor in initiation into ENDS use (i.e. first instance of vaping) from age 13 to 22. Among young people, residing in a state with a comprehensive vaping ban was associated with 18% lower odds of ENDS initiation (odds ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval =[0.71, 0.94]), even after controlling for other state ENDS and tobacco policies, the youth's cigarette smoking and socio-demographic background and state-level covariates. In the United States, state-level vaping bans (i.e. 100% vape-free workplaces, restaurants and bars) are associated with reduced odds of youth initiation into electronic nicotine delivery systems use.

An expenditure analysis revealing how Philip Morris advertisements coincide with tobacco policymaking in Switzerland.

Prior research has linked media tobacco promotion to increased tobacco use and favorable perceptions of tobacco products. Switzerland's tobacco lobby employs advertisements to sway policy decisions in its favor, yet no recent research has assessed this in detail. Our study aims to provide detailed estimates of tobacco industry (TI) advertisement costs, focusing on Philip Morris International (PMI) in Switzerland, and examine potential chronological links between TI advertisement campaigns and parliamentary discussions on tobacco bills. By spreading knowledge on this issue, we aim to support the development of future tobacco advertisement regulations. We conducted an expenditure analysis of tobacco-related press advertisements in Swiss print media published between August 2020 and August 2021, accessed through the media intelligence firm Argus Data Insights. Advertisement costs were estimated using publicly available data. We plotted expenditure sums of PMI against key parliamentary session dates featuring discussions on proposed tobacco control measures, such as tighter restrictions on advertising. Over 12 months, 501 advertisements with tobacco-specific headlines were published in Swiss press media. Of these, 437 advertisements (87.22%) were linked to PMI. PMI accounted for 88.21% (CHF 6486969) of total advertisement expenditure. Notably, PMI advertisements coincided with key political sessions discussing tobacco legislation in parliament, with a limited presence outside these periods. PMI advertisements were published parallel to key moments of parliamentary discussions, suggesting an attempt by TI to potentially influence discussions. Applying such an advertisement monitoring methodology helps understand the contextual conditions of public health in Switzerland. By analyzing TI advertisements in print media, we sought to highlight regulatory gaps and support the creation of stricter advertising regulations. We recommend continuing such research to strengthen tobacco control policymaking. Key public health efforts should include raising awareness of TI tactics, implementing a comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, and strategically engaging with the media in tobacco control campaigns.

China after COVID-19

Background:
 The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected global public health security and economic development, and is a huge test for China and other countries around the world. Among the factors affecting the outbreak of the epidemic, human abuse of wildlife appears to be the most important. Under the influence of relevant factors, China has formulated and implemented policies, laws and regulations on a comprehensive ban on wildlife.
 Objectives:
 Through the integration and impact analysis of China's comprehensive wildlife fasting policy and relevant laws and regulations, this paper aims to provide reference for other countries in epidemic prevention and control and the improvement of public health governance.
 Methods:
 Through the integration of relevant policies and regulations and detailed introduction, the author studied from three aspects: policies and regulations related to people's life, health and safety, improvement of public health and safety risk prevention and promotion of environmental protection and human civilization development, and analyzed its impact on all aspects of human society, especially public health safety and emergency management system and management capacity, to remind people to change the habit of over eating wild animals.
 Results:
 The article is of reference and guiding significance in promoting the global implementation of comprehensive fasting for wild animals, and in the current epidemic prevention and control of other countries, maintaining social public health and security governance, and safeguarding human health.
 Main Contribution to Evidence-Based Practice:
 The article demonstrates that the relevant policies, laws and regulations of China's comprehensive prohibition of wildlife have reference and guiding significance for epidemic prevention, maintenance of social public health and safety management, and protection of human health. In addition, it has promoted the global implementation of a comprehensive ban on wildlife.

Occupational Asbestos Related Diseases in Indonesia: A Call for Urgent Action and Awareness

Despite many countries have either reduced or banned asbestos use, Indonesia has yet to ban the use of asbestos. Asbestos exposure poses significant health risks, particularly respiratory diseases such asbestos-related lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis known as an asbestos-related disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asbestos is a major global health concern with millions of people exposed to its hazards and resulting in a significant number of deaths each year. We conducted a literature review study on the topic of asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia. Based on our findings, due to the large amount of asbestos being handled, it is expected that there should be hundreds to a thousand cases of asbestos-related disorders in Indonesia each year. Unfortunetely it is uncommon to find and diagnose cases of asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia. The lack of awareness, inadequate diagnosis, and underreporting of asbestos-related diseases contribute to the challenges faced in Indonesia. The study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive ban on asbestos, safer alternative materials, standardized medical surveillance for exposed workers, increased awareness and cooperation among stakeholders to eliminate asbestos-related diseases in Indonesia.

The public health risks of e-cigarettes: a systematic review

With the relevant anti-smoking policy introduced by the state, people realized the significance of smoking cessation. Therefore, E-cigarettes were regarded as a replacement of cigarettes. The analysis, which is about prevalence trends, the reason about taking systematical review, and the value of systematical review, explains this reviews stand. In this paper, the 9 articles from PubMed was collected and organized for classification.The dangers of human health is caused by the special component of e-cigarettes. Generally speaking, some countries legislate measures related to tobacco control have not fully met the requirements of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and played a role in protecting people from tobacco hazards, displaying in the lack of smoke-free legislation in public places at the national level, relatively low tobacco consumption taxes, no comprehensive ban on tobacco sponsorship. The control of e-cigarettes as tobacco products in many countries may not achieve the purpose of strict regulation. The authority believed to add punishment to people who sell novel flavor e-cigarettes should let them take legal responsibility. Furthermore, schools should increase publicity and education about public and individual health, to promote peoples health awareness and stop them from using e-cigarettes at a relatively young age.The objective of this review is to spot literature and describe the effects of e-cigarettes on public human health. Through researching and comparing articles, this article discusses the reason of smoking, the lack in policies in public health, and the solutions what people should take.

Tobacco Policy and ENDS Policy Influences on Adolescent Vaping Across the U.S. States

Although the use of tobacco has declined among youth, ENDS has the potential to disrupt or reverse these trends. Policies for tobacco and ENDS may have an impact on adolescent ENDS use. The impacts of state-level policies were examined for both tobacco and ENDS indoor use bans, excise taxes, and age-of-purchase laws on past-month adolescent ENDS use from 2013 to 2019. This study used cohort data from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health study and policy data from the Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation repository-3 policies for ENDS and 2 policies for tobacco products. Policies included comprehensive indoor vaping/smoking bans, purchase-age restrictions, and excise taxes. Hybrid panel models were estimated in 2022 using data merged from the 2 longitudinal sources on past-month vaping. The analytic sample (observations=26,008) included adolescents aged 12-17 years, yielding a total of 72,684 observations. The odds of adolescent ENDS use were 21.4% lower when the state had an ENDS purchase-age restriction and 55.0% lower when the state had a comprehensive tobacco smoking ban than in the years when the state did not have the ban. During a period of significant growth in ENDS use among U.S. youth, ENDS purchase-age restrictions and smoking bans reduced the odds of past-month vaping among adolescents. Wider implementation of policies may help intervene in youth vaping.

Five years of the ivory ban in China: Developments, limitations, and potential for improvement

Ivory bans are among the critical policy instruments used to strengthen regulation, reduce ivory trade, and ultimately aim to benefit elephant conservation. China imposed a comprehensive ban in 2018 to prohibit ivory importation for commercial purposes and domestic ivory sales with narrow exemptions. The ban has significantly changed China's ivory policy direction and substantially restricted the international and domestic trade of ivory in China. In this paper, we identify the development and limitations and potential for improvement. The ivory ban closed domestic sales and banned trophy ivory and pre-convention ivory imports. However, the sentencing exemptions, the exemptions for returning and auctioning ivory cultural relics, gifting ivory gifts and the unrestricted mammoth ivory trade, weaken the ivory policy and its conservation potential. Based on our analysis, we suggest that prosecution or penalties exemptions in ivory crimes may require further review to ensure regulatory deterrence effectiveness; ambiguous regulations for exempted ivory cultural relics need clear criteria for policy implementation; ivory gifting as allowed in the law requires explicit measures to prevent illegal exchange; the rising mammoth ivory markets may need regulatory management prevent ‘laundering’ elephant ivory. In conclusion, China's ivory control is promoted by the trade ban, yet the effectiveness of ivory policy still faces challenges in prosecution and penalty exemptions, import and auction trade exemptions, monitoring of gift giving and open mammoth ivory trade.

Specific vs Unspecific Smoke-Free Regulation: Which One is More Effective?

Tobacco kills up to half of its users, and smoking prevalence and tobacco exposure among Indonesian youth are increasing. A comprehensive ban on Tobacco Advertising, Promotion, and Sponsorship (TAPS) is a recommended tobacco control measure. Thus, this study aimed to analyze and compare political economy factors that contribute to the effectiveness of the TAPS ban implementation in Surabaya and Kulon Progo. In-depth interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted, recorded, transcribed, then analyzed using thematic analysis. We find that the role of local government was pivotal in creating and implementing regulations for tobacco control, while the leaders’ will and capability were also essential. However, the COVID-19 pandemic had limited all tobacco control measures in both studied districts. Furthermore, the lack of political will and low support from the political parties are the several factors hindering tobacco control measures at the district level, including TAPS ban enforcement. We also find that there is a need to strengthen the understanding of local government, society, and other related stakeholders toward the urgency of the TAPS ban. Further studies calculating the impact of the total TAPS ban on local revenue and the potential benefit of a total TAPS ban are urgently needed for advocating total TAPS ban implementation in a broader scope of the country.

How Did the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy Affect the Life Satisfaction of Residents in National Forest Areas? A Case Study in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia

To protect the forest ecological environment, China implemented the Comprehensive Commercial Logging Ban Policy (CCLBP), yet it has a major impact on forest residents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the CCLBP from the perspective of the satisfaction of residents. In this study, we used 242 questionnaires from residents in national forest areas in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia to evaluate satisfaction and its influencing factors by factor analysis combined with the entropy method and multiple linear regression, respectively. The results show that: (1) the overall policy satisfaction of residents in national forest areas is 60.9, which is lower than the theoretical neutral value of policy satisfaction. Increasing employment opportunities, transferring surplus employees and developing forest economy are important to improve the satisfaction of residents. (2) Life satisfaction was higher in the high-income group than in the low-income group. Increasing wage income can improve the satisfaction of residents in national forest areas. (3) The satisfaction of the worker group was significantly higher than that of the forest farmer group. Improving job stability and policy equity are important to promote life satisfaction of residents in national forest areas. (4) The satisfaction of the Yichun Forest Industry Group was significantly higher than the Inner Mongolia Forest Group. Natural resource endowment and adaptability to the CCLBP are the main factors affecting the satisfaction of different forest industry groups. At the same time, focusing on the institutional supply of external support policies in order to provide them access to information, employment advice and other services is very significant. This research provides a new approach to studying the CCLBP, which is of great practical significance for raising the wellbeing index of national forest areas.

The Concept of ‘Temporarily Poor’ Asnaf in Zakat Distribution During The Covid-19 Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic or the COVID-19 virus that hit the whole country has had a great impact, especially the economic aspect. The COVID-19 virus is very dangerous and can infect humans to the point that it can cause death. The Malaysian government acted by implementing the Movement Control Order (MCO), a comprehensive ban on all Malaysian travel abroad and the entry of foreign tourists into the country. The closure of all educational institutions including primary, secondary, pre-university, and other educational institutions. The implementation of the MCO caused the collapse of the national economy. The loss experienced by the country of as much as 2.4 billion per day during the MCO period has a great impact on the people's economy. People are affected by their source of income and lose their jobs as a result of the implementation of the MCO. The number of those whose income has been affected and who have lost their jobs continues to increase, leading to an increase in the poor asnaf. This study aims to explain the meaning and concept of asnaf 'temporarily poor'. To achieve the objective, this study uses two research methods, namely library research and field research for data collection. This study will explain the parameters for determining the 'temporary poor' asnaf of the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The results of this research can be used as a reference and guide for the administration and management of zakat in Malaysia.

Association of Comprehensive Menthol Flavor Ban With Current Cigarette Smoking in Massachusetts From 2017 to 2021

This cross-sectional study compares self-reported smoking by adults before vs after prohibition of menthol-flavored cigarettes.

Responses of African American Individuals Who Use Menthol Cigarettes to Potential Flavored Tobacco Bans

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new product standards regarding the availability of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars in the U.S. However, it is unclear whether limiting characterizing flavors in cigarettes and cigars as proposed, or across all tobacco products, produces differential effects on the tobacco use behaviors of African American/Black individuals who use menthol cigarettes. This study assessed whether limiting characterizing flavors in combusted products only or across all tobacco products produces differential impacts on the tobacco use behaviors of African American/Black individuals who use menthol cigarettes. Adult African American/Black individuals who use menthol cigarettes in the U.S. were recruited through Qualtrics (n=373) and in Richmond, VA (n=206) for an online experiment from September 2021 to August 2022. Participants reported how their tobacco use behaviors would change under 3 scenarios: maintenance of the status quo, limited flavor ban (ban characterizing flavors in cigarettes and cigars), and comprehensive flavor ban (ban characterizing flavors in all tobacco products). Seemingly unrelated regressions compared differences in expected responses to policy scenarios (p<0.05). Both flavor ban scenarios resulted in higher quitting intentions for cigarettes and all tobacco products than the status quo (p<0.05). The comprehensive ban resulted in greater intentions to quit all tobacco products and lower intentions to switch to certain alternative products (e.g., E-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, heated tobacco products) than the limited ban (p<0.05). African American/Black individuals who use menthol cigarettes appear more likely to quit smoking if characterizing flavors in combusted products (e.g., menthol cigarettes) are banned, regardless of if characterizing flavors are available in noncombusted alternative tobacco products.

Social Pressures Accompanying the Comprehensive Ban Measures to Prevent the Spread of Corona Virus (Covid-19) in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan

The study aims to identify the social pressures accompanying the comprehensive ban measures to prevent the outbreak of the coronavirus covid-19, and the study used the descriptive analytical method where the questionnaire tool was used, and the study population consisted of (404) graduate students, master and doctorates in the departments of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Mutah University. Male and female students for the academic year 2019-2020, the study sample was chosen by the intentional method provided them with e-mails on the (teams) technology, and their number was (244) students. The study reached the following major results: 1-The most common types of social pressures associated with the comprehensive ban that individuals experienced was their anxiety when they heard from the media about new HIV infections, where the arithmetic mean value reached (4.41), which is a high arithmetic average. 2-The least factors leading to the social pressures accompanying the comprehensive ban to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus as Covid 19, came in the last place, the paragraph represented by strengthening the curfew from the feeling of indifference among individuals within the Jordanian society, with an arithmetic average of (3.21). The study recommended a set of recommendations, the most important of which are 1-Thinking positively about spending free time at home, and then occupying yourself with useful hobbies. 2-Teaching children some useful life skills after the end of the ban period.

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of workers in indoor bars, beer halls and discotheques towards exposure to second-hand smoking in the two cities in Swaziland

Second-hand smoking is a serious health hazard causing approximately 41000 deaths from lung cancer, respiratory infections, asthma, coronary heart disease and stroke globally each year. Evidence suggests that workers in bars, beer halls and discotheques are more exposed to second- hand smoking compared to other workers in general. Protection of these workers through enactment of smoke-free legislation and attitudes of these workers towards such legislation are key variables of compliance. This study aimed to describe the knowledge of the adverse effects of second-hand smoking, attitudes and perceptions of workers towards the practice. The results suggest that most workers knew what second-hand smoking was and that it could cause lung cancer, coronary heart disease and asthma but undermined the fact that continued exposure or exposure to low levels could lead to severe disease or death. Fifty-four percent of the respondents showed good knowledge and 36% showed fair knowledge of the adverse effects of exposure to second-hand smoke. Respondents mentioned lung cancer (100%), increased coughing (90%), asthma (60%) and heart disease (30%) as possible adverse effects. The knowledge was not different among workers who smoked and those who did not smoke (never smoked or ex- smokers) (p=0.1041). However, both smokers and non-smokers did not believe that exposure to second-hand smoke could lead to early death (p=0.8864). The suggestions that smoking should be banned in all indoor workplaces was accepted by non-smokers but rejected by smokers (p=0.0001). So was the suggestion of increasing tax on cigarettes (p&lt;0.0001). Legislation banning smoking in indoor workplaces is contained in the Swaziland Tobacco Products Control Act (2013) that is still waiting to be enforced and as such, indoor smoking is not banned in the country. Sixty-seven per cent of the participants were not aware of the existence of legislation aimed at protecting them against exposure to second-hand smoke in indoor workplaces. It is suggested that the enforcement of the Swaziland Tobacco Control Act (2013), which purports to impose a comprehensive ban of indoor smoking be speeded up so that indoor air quality could improve. Mechanisms to monitor adherence to the complete ban are likely to speed up improvement of the health of many indoor workers in bars, beer halls and discotheques that are exposed for lengthy periods. Enforcement of the Act should include creation of programmes to create awareness of the risks faced by the workers.