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Objective: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) use among youth in Indonesia is rising, and there is no regulation surrounding sale of e-cigarettes. This study aims to map the distribution and density of vape stores and their proximity to schools and cafes as well as assess selling of e-cigarettes to youth under 18 years in Denpasar, Bali., Methods: Using QGIS V.3.18.1 software, we conducted a geographic mapping of all vape stores followed by a survey of the retailers (n=107). Data were collected in April 2022. Several measures explored included retailers' density based on the size and population of subdistricts, retailers' proximity to school. Retailers were asked about selling to youth under 18 years, then its association with distance to schools and other variables were explored., Results: We mapped 122 vape stores across Denpasar city with a density of 1.56 per km 2 of the occupied land for housing, 0.16 stores per 1000 total population and 1.06 stores per 1000 youth population. More than a quarter of the schools (28.3%) and the universities (25.6%) had at least one vape store in 250 m radius, while 97.2% of the stores were within 500 m of a café. Of the 107 vape store retailers interviewed, almost half (43.9%) reported selling vapes to youth under 18 years., Conclusions: Retail availability of e-cigarettes will contribute to the increasing use of this product, especially without a minimum legal sales age. The government should urgently prohibit selling to youth, regulate e-cigarette advertising, promotion and sponsorship and prohibit e-cigarette use where conventional smoking is prohibited., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Background: In 2017, Indonesia initiated the amendment of its 11-year-old tobacco control regulation (PP 109/2012) to reduce smoking among youth, but the process was stalled. The proposed changes in the regulation include a full ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS), increasing health warning label (HWL) size and regulating electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). This study analysed the arguments and actors for and against the PP 109/2012 amendment in online media articles., Method: Content analysis of 326 online articles reporting on the PP 109/2012 amendment published from 2018 to 2023, retrieved from the Tobacco Watcher platform. We coded articles for statements supporting or opposing the amendment (position statement), content of the arguments used to support (supporting argument) and oppose (opposing argument) the amendment, actors presenting the arguments and tobacco control measures. We iteratively reviewed and coded data and presented the frequency of categories., Results: Of 332 position statements, 53.3% were against the amendment. The main categories of supporting arguments (N=1448) included smoking trends (21.1%), health implications (16.6%), science-based evidence (9.6%) and protecting the population (9.2%). Opposing arguments (N=1413) emphasised the tobacco farmers' welfare (16.6%), impact on the industry (16.4%) and current regulation is sufficient (11.0%). Supporting actors were predominantly health-related entities and government officials (89.3%), while 62.1% of opposing actors included trade and Islamic groups, the tobacco industry and front groups. HWLs, e-cigarette/heated tobacco product regulation and TAPS were the main (77.8%) tobacco control measures mentioned in the proamendment arguments, while HWLs, TAPS and cigarette sale restrictions were the dominant (79.3%) tobacco control measures in anti-amendment arguments., Conclusion: Indonesia's tobacco control reform faced opposition by false claims primarily from industry allies, resulting in a 5-year delay in enactment. Future tobacco control media advocacy must address these claims and emphasise the alignment of economic interests with public health goals., Competing Interests: Competing interests: JEC is a paid consultant in litigation against a tobacco company., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)