ABSTRACT
Introduction. Tobacco consumption is one of the global problems that creates serious health risks. The Georgian anti-tobacco law was accepted on 2017.
The objective of the study. The research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tobacco control legislation on tobacco consumption by students in Georgia.
Material and methods. A focus group method was used within qualitative research. A nonprobability sampling method and its most convenient type – a snowball sampling was used for the respondent selection. Respondents were the students of Tbilisi State University (Georgia). The group was comprised of Ilia State University undergraduate and postgraduate students (Tbilisi, Georgia). A total of 14 respondents were interviewed: 6 women and 8 men male. The age of the participants ranged from 20 to 24 years.
Results. Respondents began smoking between the ages of 14-16 years old. Regarding the reasons to begin smoking, the subjects attributed the decision to a mild curiosity spurned by a positive atmosphere of social encouragement. Respondents are aware of the amendments to the Tobacco Control Law, they being more or less aware of the prohibitions that followed, and what sanctions would be imposed in case of violations. Ten respondents positively evaluate these changes and believe that the positive results are noticeable in the short-term.
Conclusions. It is advisable to facilitate the preventing measures of tobacco consumption. In this regard, it is welcome to introduce the Law on Tobacco Control in Georgia that prohibits tobacco consumption and advertising in public places, particularly in educational and other institutions, as well as selling tobacco products near schools.
Keywords: anti-tobacco law, tobacco consumption, behavior, social environment.
Full text sources https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2020.55.1.12 How to cite Email to Author Format XML
Correspondence address:
Tengiz VERULAVA
Public Health and Insurance Institute, The Faculty of Business, Technology and Education, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Email: Tengiz.verulava@gmail.com
