The legislative council of Bali, a major international tourist destination, enacted a 100% smokefree provincial legislation in November 2011 states that public places, workplaces including hotels and restaurants and public transport will be 100% smoke-free, effective May 2012.
The law, which was subsequently certified by Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, will also ban advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco products, especially around playgrounds and health, educational and governmental facilities. The governor and hospitality proprietors expect the new law will be welcome among tourists, who come to Bali from around the world.
"The legislation passed will implement the 2009 Health Law", said Governor Pastika. "Intensive education was needed to ensure that the legislation would be obeyed and understood, considering the low level of awareness about the health dangers of smoking".
According to a 2010 Ministry of Health (MOH) report, 31% of the province's population over 10 years of age are smokers, up from 24.9% in 2007. Second-hand smoke is also a problem, with more than 70% of Balinese being exposed to it in their homes, workplaces and other public places. A survey on the law carried out by the Bali Provincial Health Office in May and June found that 93.1% of those surveyed backed the law, including 90.7% of smokers.
Through a grant from Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use (BI), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) has given support to the Bali Provincial Health Office, which for the last two years has been working to secure the smokefree law there. The Union has also supported the Health Office, academic institutions and civil society organisations to build their technical, legal and management capacity related to tobacco control legislation. The Union will continue to work with the Health Office throughout the coming months to ensure the effective enforcement and implementation of the law.