Papua New Guinea's National Capital District is moving the focus of its betelnut crackdown from vendors to users.
Almost three years ago, Port Moresby's Governor Powes Parkop instituted a ban on the public sale and consumption of the stimulant, known locally as 'buai'.
The ban was aimed at cleaning up the capital's streets and pavements of the ubiquitous blood-red buai spit stains, and mitigating health risks associated with chewing.
However, the ban has been unpopular since many village producers and small-scale retailers rely on income from selling buai - the rise of a buai black market has also been problematic.
Mr Parkop told Dominic Godfrey the ban has been relaxed on those supplying and selling, but the total ban will remain on chewing it in public.
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A woman in Papua New Guinea selling betel nut and accessories by the roadside. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades