Author Description

The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that India has the second largest number of smokers in the world after China.The present study was an attempt to assess the public understanding and support for smoke-free legislations and to ascertain the level of compliance of general public to Section 4 (prohibition of smoking in a public place) under COTPA in a district of North India. Around 25.3 % of the studied population was current smokers. Almost 33% perceive that smoking gives pleasure, 86% believes smoking is harmful for health, 68% perceive it as economic burden to family.Around 85% of studied population had knowledge about smoking ban at public places. Around 92.8 % of places have displayed "No- smoking" signage and 94.4% of places were found free of smoke. The simple and inexpensive methodology of study provided a reliable estimate of smoking in public places which can be easily replicable in other settings. The study can serve a useful tool to inform policy makers, enforcement officials, researchers and academicians across globe.