One-day ban on cigarette sales across Dubai
Smokers face a frustrating time trying to feed their habit today as the sale of cigarettes and tobacco has been banned across Dubai for 24 hours.
Hundreds of outlets, including supermarkets, filling stations and cafes have signed up to Dubai Municipality’s voluntary one-day initiative, which kicked in at midnight last night.
“The move is aimed at spreading awareness about the dangers of cigarette smoking to make people think about tobacco consumption as it kills millions of people and affects public health,” said Redha Salaman, director of public health and safety at the municipality.
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Firms join forces with Dubai Municipality on World No Tobacco Day to highlight dangers of smoking
Municipality officials said no tobacco day is intended to draw global attention to
tobacco use and its negative health effects, which result in 5.4 million deaths worldwide every year. Cigarette counters will reopen at midnight tonight.
However, the ban has drawn mixed reactions. One smoker told 7DAYS: “So I go and buy three or four packs and I have plenty before the 24 hours starts? Two years ago they said they would put the price up to Dhs30 a pack, the same as in countries in Europe, but they stopped talking about this because people would be too unhappy.”
Another added: “It’s a bit extreme. I’ve always believed smoking is down to personal choice.
“If they tried announcing a ban in my home country just hours before it was imposed there would be a massive outcry.”
Supermarket chain Spinneys is one of those participating in the ban. Marketing manager Colette Shannon said: “We will close cigarette counters and put up posters explaining what the Dubai authorities are trying to achieve.”
She added: “We are a community-centred supermarket and it was an obvious initiative to get behind. There was no negative reaction from customers last year. Maybe they did take their custom to another store but they did support us on it.”
Some UAE residents also welcomed the initiative. Taking to Twitter to give their support. One tweeted: “Can you also get people in #Dubai to not allow anyone to smoke for 24 hours as well, now that would be wonderful. They need to follow #Europe and STOP smoking in ALL public places.”
Another said: “We need to have a no tobacco day every week. It’s shocking when I go to cafes and see people smoking with their kids there.”
There will be 283 firms, including shops, 52 Emarat petrol stations and 85 Enoc stations, participating in the campaign.
Meanwhile, Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) has launched the ‘Abu Dhabi Says No to Tobacco’ programme. HAAD will be running a booth every weekend at eight malls around Abu Dhabi City from today until July 21.}
It will also increase the number of education courses for doctors and nurses on how to help people stop smoking.
Comments
by Night Hawk
Sunday, June 03 2012, 1:58PM
“The Municipality shouldn't have announced this initiative until the day of the event. Smokers are going to their stock for Thursday.”
by Khushal Pandya
Saturday, June 02 2012, 10:15AM
“There were smaller supermarktes who had been selling cigarrattes that day !”
by Randall Mohammed
Friday, June 01 2012, 11:46PM
“Want to see smoking become a thing of the past..implement more "no smoking" days and enforce a total ban on smoking in all cafes, resturants, bars, hotels and appartment buildings. Limit the access to purchase cigarettes and hick up the price. Apart from the negative health effects and the health cost to the nation, smoking represents a serious fire hazard and has caused many fires that destroys property and life. The new tag line should be zero tollerence on smoking.”
by Sharon Siacon
Thursday, May 31 2012, 8:55PM
“i will support..even if am not a smoker.”
by Gead Echavez Abad
Thursday, May 31 2012, 6:44PM
“In addition to making it easier to enjoy the fresh air in the city, the smoking ban will reduce cigarette litter. In fact, cigarette butts are the most littered item in the country and they are not harmless. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and contain toxins that are harmful to children, pets, birds, fish and other wildlife. The less of it that is around, the better for planet Earth.”
by Dubai2020
Thursday, May 31 2012, 5:27PM
“I think all you non-smokers are missing the point. Smoking is an addiction. No amount of winging non-smokers (x non-smokers are usually the worst) will make a smoker give up unless they want to. Stopping the source of buying cigarettes will have the opposite effect. I have already met several smokers today who have gone out and bought 80 - 200 cigarettes so to ensure they have some if they can't buy them later, I guess most smokers will now always keep 200 in the cupboard as a 'just in case'. All you have done is make smokers go and buy in bulk to ensure they don't get caught out again. Or maybe this was the plan to increase sales?”
by Timothy John Handumon
Thursday, May 31 2012, 4:30PM
“this will help!! even if its only one day !!! one day practice leads to more..”
by WritersAssignment
Thursday, May 31 2012, 4:11PM
“Cigarette, a have for smokers but a gradual sting of death for many. True, it's difficult to battle tobacco if you'll consider its economic and pleasure side of it. But when we talk about about health and living, there's nothing more important that protecting one's self and extend that protection to others by keeping tobacco out of the air.”
by Tahaw
Thursday, May 31 2012, 3:23PM
“This is a great initiative! Great to see them enforce this rule even if for a day!”
by djoanes1
Thursday, May 31 2012, 2:43PM
“The sooner we kick smokers out of Dubai, the better this city will be for us and for our children.”