Qatar Toughens Restrictions on Smoking

Source from:  al-shorfa.com 08/22/2014

Qatar's newly amended law that bans smoking inside vehicles and most public facilities has been welcomed by Qataris at varied degrees.

The changes are part of a series of amendments to a 2002 law banning smoking declared by the Qatari Supreme Council of Health. Areas where smoking is no longer allowed include indoor shopping malls, elevators, ministries, public transportation, sports clubs, cinemas, theatres, restaurants, Hamad International Airport and the Port of Doha.

The amendments prohibited the sale of cigarettes near schools and set a minimal distance of 1,000 metres between any shop that sells cigarettes and a school.

A fine of 500 Qatari riyals ($137) will be imposed on anyone who violates the law.

Qatar's Central Municipal Council member Mashaal al-Duhnaim said the original law issued in 2002 had not achieved its goals of curbing smoking.

"Smokers completely disregard the provisions of the law, especially employees in government institutions and commercial centres, forcing many non-smokers to involuntarily inhale air that is filled with cigarette smoke," he said.

The new additions to the law are "a positive step that could render the law more effective and turn it into a tangible reality," he said.

Lack　of　Enforcement

Al-Duhnaim told Al-Shorfa smoking has spread due to the lack of oversight, few inspectors to enforce the law, and a failure on the part of police to effectively tackle these problems.

Simultaneous popular and official supervision are necessary to monitor and report on any transgressions, he said, noting that is the only way to put the smoking ban law into effect.

Hamad Medical Corporation anti-smoking clinic director Dr. Ahmed al-Mulla praised the new amendments and said they were necessary in order to make the original law more effective.

Government agencies, civil society organisations and volunteers need to enforce the law in public places, which al-Mulla said is expected to reduce cigarette consumption and curb smoking among university and school students.

Earlier this year, al-Mulla reported that 37% of the population of Qatar "smokes". This figure includes a large number of students at schools and universities, who account for between 12% and 15%, he said.

Raising　Public　Awareness　

Government employee Salem Abdullah al-Hajeri told Al-Shorfa that banning smoking inside a car might encourage smoking in public places and called on the authorities to provide dedicated clinics for treating addicts "instead of fines, which only weighs down heavily on people".

Awareness campaigns also need to be stepped up in order to educate the public on the dangers of smoking, especially among teenagers, he said.

Abdullah Abdul Hamid Abu Bakr, who works at a printing company, said the new amendments to the law explicitly designated secluded places for smoking in shopping malls.

Other benefits of the new law include the allocation of 2% of customs duties on tobacco imports to fund the Ministry of Public Health's efforts to promote health awareness in the mass media, he said.

It will be necessary to "increase the number of inspectors and grant them regulatory-judicial status in order to improve their ability [to enforce the law], especially in the evening; and to help them coordinate with authorities at shopping malls to enlist the support of security personnel to prevent smoking there", he said. Enditem