Morning at a corner of the Intermoda Joyoboyo Terminal in Surabaya,\nEast Java, reveals a city striving to instil discipline. On one side, a\nno-smoking sign stands firm in bright colours. Meanwhile, the flow of\npeople moving from bus to ride-hailing vehicles leaves small gaps where\npeople pause briefly, some clinging to old habits that are hard to part\nfrom the rhythm of urban life. A big city like Surabaya is not only\nbuilding physical infrastructure but is also testing the social\ndiscipline of its citizens through the Smoke-Free Zone (KTR).<\/p>\n
Surabaya is at a pivotal point. The city has been shortlisted as a\nnational exemplar for Smoke-Free Zones. Assessments by the Ministry of\nHome Affairs and the Ministry of Health signal that policies long in\nplace are being tested for their consistency. Behind these assessments\nlies a deeper question about how far regulation can change habits, and\nto what extent public spaces are truly free of the unseen smoke whose\neffects are felt.<\/p>\n
City rules<\/p>\n
Surabaya did not start from scratch. Its legal basis has been\nestablished through Regional Regulation No.\u00a02 of 2019 on Smoke-Free\nZones, and technical rules reinforced by mayoral regulations. Within\nthis framework, zones such as health facilities, schools, places of\nworship, public transport, offices, and public spaces are designated as\nsmoking-free zones.<\/p>\n
Administratively, the structure looks orderly. Regular monitoring is\nundertaken, including periodic evaluations by the health department and\nfield task forces. In several monitoring reports, compliance is\ndescribed as increasing, and at some points of monitoring no violations\nwere recorded. This data shows that, institutionally, Surabaya has built\na system that keeps operating.<\/p>\n
Surabaya\u2019s status as a city with a high level of compliance also\nreinforces that image. In the Health Ministry\u2019s Smoke-Free Zone\ndashboard, the city sits among the top nationally. Moreover, the\nsmoke-free neighbourhoods that have reached parts of the city\ndemonstrate that a community-based approach is being built, not merely a\nlegal one.<\/p>\n
However, strong regulation does not always translate to uniform\nbehavioural change. Here the city\u2019s mirror begins to show another side.\nWhen rules exist, the next challenge is to ensure they breathe in a\ndynamic social space, not merely in policy documents.<\/p>\n
Challenges<\/p>\n
Behind the administrative achievements, Surabaya\u2019s Smoke-Free Zone\nfaces challenges more complex than mere signs. One issue emerging is a\nchange in the form of tobacco consumption itself. Electronic cigarettes\nor vapes have become an area of ambiguity not fully addressed by the\nolder regulations. This gap creates room for interpretation on the\nground, for both users and inspectors.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/a-city-realigning-its-breath-1779542959", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }