The Smoking Ban in Armenia: Early Successes and Challenges

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YEREVAN, Armenia — Zaruhi Grigoryan, BS (MPH ’16),  Zhanna Sargsyan, MS (MPH ’18), Diana Muradyan, MD, Ph.D. (MPH ’20), Kristina Mnatsakanyan, MD, (MPH ’11), Varduhi Hayrumyan, MS (MPH ’16), and Varduhi Petrosyan, MS, Ph.D. from the Avedisian Onanian Center for Health Services Research and Development of the Turpanjian College of Health Sciences (CHS), American University of Armenia, have published a new study titled “A mixed-methods evaluation of the indoor and outdoor smoking ban in dining venues in Armenia: Early successes and challenges” in the journal of Tobacco Induced Diseases. This is an open-access, multidisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal that focuses on all aspects of research related to the prevention and control of tobacco use at a global level, with an impact factor of 3.8 (2023) and a citation score of 6.2 (2022). 

With its updated tobacco control law ratified in 2020, Armenia introduced a comprehensive smoking ban on all types of tobacco products in indoor and outdoor hospitality venues, effective March 2022. This study aimed to assess the ban’s implementation in dining venues and explore any compliance and enforcement discrepancies between indoor and outdoor spaces in the capital city of Yerevan. Employing a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative air quality monitoring, qualitative observations, and in-depth interviews, the research team monitored 19 venues across diverse districts in Yerevan. The team completed 24 measurements of PM2.5 particles, 24 discrete observations, and 11 in-depth interviews involving visitors and workers of dining venues. The study employed a quantitative approach and deductive content analysis of textual data to explore the early successes and challenges of the smoke-free law implementation.

Active tobacco use was observed in 12 out of 24 venues (50.0%), with more cases of smoking in outdoor areas (10 out of 12; 83.3%). No warning by workers or no reports to the police were observed by the study team or mentioned by participants. The study found elevated levels of PM2.5 particles in indoor and outdoor areas. The in-depth interviews revealed that visitors appreciated the indoor ban more than the outdoor, and all participants lacked awareness of and readiness to engage in the enforcement measures. The lack of enforcement by the owners of dining venues and respective government oversight bodies was mentioned as a contributor to continued violations of the ban, particularly in outdoor areas. However, dining venue workers underscored the change in the dynamic and characteristics of visitors, cleaner air, and less unpleasant work activities as important positive byproducts of the ban.

This study’s findings advocate for the Armenian Government to bolster monitoring and enforcement measures of the smoke-free law in the country and run public awareness campaigns. Enhanced efforts are crucial to educate the population and the hospitality industry about the ban’s favorable health and social implications to foster greater compliance and a healthier environment for all.

The AUA Turpanjian College of Health Sciences works actively to improve population health and health services in Armenia and the region through interdisciplinary education and development of health professionals to be leaders in public health, nursing, health services research and evaluation, and health care delivery and management.