BACKGROUND: In the current tobacco control law in Bangladesh smoking in designated smoking areas (DSA) are prohibited in single-room restaurants. In multi-room restaurants, owners are permitted to designate DSA in an open space. The law also bans tobacco advertisement, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS). Evidence indicates that partial smoking bans are ineffective in protecting individuals from secondhand smoke. This study aims to identify the motivations behind the establishment of DSAs in restaurants and to investigate which tobacco companies are providing advertising materials and incentives to restaurant owners.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2023, data was collected from 102 restaurants in Dhaka, Chittagong, and Cox’s bazar cities using snowball sampling. Restaurants were eligible for inclusion if they had more than one dining area and tobacco advertising materials displayed. Data was gathered using a pretested observational checklist and a semi-structured questionnaire for interviews with restaurant authorities.
RESULTS: All (100%) surveyed restaurants displayed British American Tobacco (BAT) Company’s advertising materials and signs/logos. Over three-fourths (77.5%) of the DSA area featured BAT advertising materials. Nearly all (99.02%) of the DSA areas contained BAT-branded lighters and/or ashtrays. BAT cigarettes were available for purchase in 89.22% of the restaurants. Cent percent of the surveyed restaurants received a one-time cash benefits averaging 806,667.00 Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) from BAT to establish DSA and maintain the DSA area and display BAT advertisement materials. All surveyed restaurants had written agreements with BAT to display of these advertising materials.
CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed that BAT blatantly incentivizes restaurant owners to promote smoking activity at their venues by alluring restaurants owners to establish DSA and displaying advertising materials. This behavior undermines public health efforts. This study recommends strengthening the tobacco control law and ensuring 100% smoke-free environment at hospitality sectors to protect women, children and non-smokers from tobacco menace.