Introduction:
Despite high smoking rates, Armenia and Georgia adopted national comprehensive smoke-free laws in 2022 and 2018, respectively. This study examined participant knowledge regarding whether the law covered alternative tobacco products (ATPs) and support for the law to include ATPs and to expand to other locations (e.g., parks/beaches, multi-unit housing). We also examined potential correlates, including exposure to cigarette, e-cigarette, and heated tobacco product (HTP) ads; news opposing smoke-free policy; and ads/news stories or community-based activity promoting smoke-free air.

Material and Methods:
We analyzed 2022 survey data from 1,468 adults (avg. age=42.92, 51.4% female, 31.6% past 30-day smokers) in 28 communities in Armenia and Georgia. We conducted multivariable regressions examining the 3 outcomes, including the correlates of interest and controlling for country, age, sex, and smoking status.

Results:
Overall, 79.2% of participants knew the law covered ATPs. Average support (on a scale of 1=strongly oppose to 4=strongly support) for the law to include ATPs was 3.43 (SD=0.90) and for the law to expand to other locations was 3.00 (SD=0.82). In regression models, correlates of knowledge the law covered ATPs included more exposure to media and community-based action supporting smoke-free air (Nagelkerke R2=.096). Correlates of support for the law to include ATPs were less exposure to news opposing smoke-free policy and HTP ads, and more exposure to media and community-based action supporting smoke-free air (Adjusted R2=.256). Correlates of support for the law to expand to other locations included less HTP ad exposure and more exposure to community-based action supporting smoke-free air (Adjusted R2=.387).

Conclusions:
Media and community-based action have the potential to promote knowledge and support for smoke-free policy. HTP ads may have unique attributes that undermine smoke-free policy, and thus warrant examination of their contents and consumer targets.