A city taking on e-cigarettes: Strengthening enforcement in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cities play a key role in protecting people from the harms of e-cigarettes. The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is stepping up to meet the challenge.
Overview
Published: May 2026
Tobacco control policies have helped reduce smoking in many parts of the world. But the growing use of e-cigarettes, especially with young people, is creating new challenges. Even where strong regulations exist, these products remain widely available, and confusion about their risks continues to spread.
Cities have an important role to play in closing this gap. Local action can help turn national policies into real protection by strengthening enforcement, raising awareness and making it easier for people to understand and follow the rules.
The city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is showing how this can be done. Building on national legislation, the city has taken steps to strengthen enforcement of e-cigarette regulations. This includes new local policies to reinforce smoke-free environments, closer coordination between agencies to address illegal sales and use, and a public campaign to raise awareness and tackle misinformation.
By bringing these efforts together, Rio de Janeiro is helping protect people from the harm of e-cigarettes and showing what effective local action can look like.
Read the full case study: Strengthening enforcement of e-cigarette regulations in Rio de Janeiro
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