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Sharjah: Residents will soon be unable to light up in public once the smoking ban takes effect.
His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, issued a decision banning smoking in all public places. The decision will come into effect in two months.
People will be prohibited from smoking in enclosed public areas, which includes shopping centres, restaurants, and on all modes of public transport.
The responsibility of enforcing the rule and issuing fines has been left to the civic authorities, who will have the authority to take the necessary measures against violators in addition to setting up awareness campaigns.
Restaurants however, said they will not be deterred by the new rule and are optimistic that business will not be dramatically affected.
"We have a no-smoking policy yet customers continue to smoke inside the restaurant. It is a very good idea to implement the rule and even though business might go down by a small percentage at first, I am sure that people will soon get used to the idea and not worry about not being able to smoke," said Amar Owais, cashier at Fresh Chicken King on Jamal Abdul Nasser Road.
"We have tables and chairs outside the shop where customers can sit and smoke. So even though they will not be allowed to smoke indoors, we can still cater to them and I am sure that we will not lose customers," said Mohammad Raslan, an employee at Dunkin Donuts, in Halwan.
A statement issued by the Sharjah Consultative Council stated that a hotline number will be set up at the start of the smoking ban to receive complaints and suggestions from the public, officials and residents.
Dr Jamil Tourki, assistant federal director of preventive medicine at the Ministry of Health, told Gulf News the ban completed the emirate's anti-smoking regulations.
"Although Sharjah is considered the lowest in smoking prevalence because of the ban on shisha in public ... the smoking habit is on the rise everywhere," he said.
"At least people will not suffer the effects because smokers can only smoke at home now."
He added the ministry would now change its focus while educating the public on the dangers of smoking, to emphasise the dangers of second-hand cigarette smoke in the home.
"They should be aware of the danger to their loved ones and also to other members of the household," he said.
Two years ago, a 12-year-old registered high levels of carbon monoxide in her lungs during a random anti-smoking drive because her parents had been smoking shisha at home.
Upon discovering the fact, her father agreed to smoke smoking and signed up with the ministry's smoking cessation clinic.
Dr Shaikh Sultan previously issued an order preventing shisha and shisha cafes in Sharjah, and in 2000 banned smoking in institutions, agencies and government departments.
People will be prohibited from smoking in enclosed public areas, which includes shopping centres, restaurants, and on all modes of public transport.
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