[Intl-tobacco] Dubai bans tobacco to all under 21

[Robert Weissman]

http://66.234.3.46/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2003/October/theuae_October751.xml&section=theuae

Khaleej Times Online >> News >> THE U.A.E

Dubai bans tobacco to all under 21
By Zaigham Ali Mirza

27 October 2003


DUBAI - In a major step towards combating the menace of smoking among
teenagers, Dubai has banned the sale of tobacco to anyone who is under
the age
of 21, up from the earlier age limit of 18.

The ban is stated in Article 52 of the Local Order No. 11 of 2003,
issued yesterday by
Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of
Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality.<?xml:namespace
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According to the order, government departments have been authorised to
lay down
restrictions or requirements necessary for prohibiting smoking in public
areas such as
shopping centres and cafes.

The departments may also prohibit smoking in other places, which it may
see as
harmful to non-smokers, or is used to influence the behaviour of minors.
The Local order, through Article 50, also prohibits import, manufacture
or sale of any
type of tobacco in the emirate, if it is known to contain any
ingredients harmful to
human health or brain.

"We have been writing to particular type of establishments to ask them
to ensure that
smoking is prohibited at their premises in areas such as children's play
area, while
restaurants and cafes have been asked to separate smoking and non-smoking
sections," Hussain Nasser Ahmed Lootah, Assistant Director-General for Environment
and Public Health Affairs at Dubai Municipality, told Khaleej Times yesterday.
Replying to a question on the impact of the Local Order on controlling
smoking in the
emirate, Mr Lootah said that the restrictions on smoking in public
places will be
implemented gradually.

"This (smoking) is a behaviour we are trying to control and it cannot be
done very
suddenly. Take the case of airlines all over the world; almost all of
them are now
non-smoking flights and people have come to accept it," he said.
On a question on controlling smoking in private environments, Mr Lootah
said that it is
difficult to monitor the practices and behaviour of smokers in their private
environments, such as in cars, and hence outside the purview of the department.
"We need a lot of cooperation, not only from the hotels, restaurants,
cafes, and
shopping malls, but also from the members of the public," he said.
Mr Lootah also said that the new order will root out the greater hazard
of fake and
unbranded cigarettes, which are more harmful to human health owing to
the presence
of some toxic natural and chemical ingredients.

The order deals with a number of public hygiene and community safety issues,
including health hazards on various activities, food and drinking water
hygiene, health
institutions, combating of contagious diseases and public health,
building safety,
general cleanliness, animal health, animal husbandry and supervision of cemeteries.
The order also provided a list of health institutions charged with
dealing with the issue.
It also stipulates the contagious diseases which must be reported to the
authorities for
deportation of the carrier out of the country, health services fees, as
well as measures
on general cleanliness, public safety and insurance.

The Local Order also said that Dubai Municipality inspectors, assigned
on duty by the
municipality's Director-General, have the legal power to arrest
violators, they also have
the power to enter into any premises for inspection, seize items which
violate any of
the health, safety and environmental rules and regulations.

The administration of the quarters concerned, charged with implementing
the order
shall seek the assistance of any or all of the organisational units of
Dubai Municipality,
government departments or public institutions in the emirate, including
police, to
implement the order whenever it sees the need for it, the order said.