YAAH, Dubai Municipality bans smoking shisha

Government to "ban" why not educate and allow for choices by the individuals? My home state is a "Smoke Free" state where smoking has been "banned" but there is still A LOT of smoking going on.. Education, aiming at the younger pre teen group will be the only way to stop the cycle of addiction...got to find a way to make "Joe Camel" uncool

BTW Where did they Ban ? I cam see the lots of restaurent in public places are providing Shisha.Or am i in Dream ? .lol

"Drink Beer Save Water"

I'd say ban cigarettes and shisha just like drugs.

Yes, but what I am saying is that it is a small piece in a big jigsaw. Social change is not so simplistic. Coupled with the fact that this is a new country. Imagine if our home countries had only been wealthy for a few decades. Thats all from me on the subject.

Jasmine, I can sum up my argument very simply by saying:

Any country that sells cigarettes for QR7 per pack is NOT serious about controlling tobacco.

no big deal...at least for me,that is... :P

Social change takes years to come about. You can't just ban things and expect the culture to change. I agree that people shouldn't be allowed to break the law but it is deeper than that. After all, how many people in the UK are still smoking affter the ban? most of them even though it means standing out in the rain. Remember the clunk clip every trip campaign? That was not expected to have it's full effect for up to 10 years after they started the campaign. There is always going to be a generation of people who will not change at the start of such a campaign. Education is far more important. There should be more health education in all schools. My parents generation STILL don't really get that drink driving is terrible, for example, whereas to our (30ish) generation and below it is considered to be the lowest of the low thing you can do. Why? Because we were educated from a very young age that it was wrong.

It's great the Qatar is helping people to try and quit, but I have to agree with fubar that it would be much better to try and stop people becoming addicted in the first place, and to enforce the law prohibiting smoking in public places.

I always thought that locals respected the Emir and basically did whatever he said. Obviously that's not the case judging from the number ignoring the Decree on smoking.

Helping people quit is certainly admirable.

I personally would have thought that it would be preferable to stop the people smoking in the first place through public health initiatives and increasing the cost of tobacco products.

Allowing such huge numbers of people to become addicted and then supply them with aids to quit would seem like the more expensive and less effective way of controlling the problem.

A collective blind eye is turned towards smoking in this country. There ALWAYS seems to be someone smoking in every cafe in city center, despite the numerous stickers proclaiming the Emiri decree (like that's worth taking any notice of).

The toilets at the cinema have more people puffing than pissing inside.

No one who has the ability to control the problem can be bothered.

Actually Doha is making a huge effort to help people quit. There is a free quit clinic at the Hamad, no stress having to pay the cashier and get beaten up in the queues. They offer free help either medication or nicotine replacement therapy. They are non judgemental and see men and women of all nationalities and children also. Zyban is a very expensive drug and there are not many national health services that would give it out. Doha is not always the worst, I defend them on this. I have actually been there twice.

If I'm not mistaken...

The photo in the article is a famous sheesha cafe on the corniche in Abu Dhabi. The restaurant spills out into the adjoining park where you can have dinner and sheesha on the grass and under the stars, which is exactly what they want to ban in Dubai.

The title of this thread is a bit misleading. They haven't banned sheesha smoking completely, only in outdoor public areas like parks and beaches. The cafes will all still be operating.

since last year. No biggie.

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I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.

Smoking is a public health issue, and soon I hope that this cancer machine will be banned here in Doha. Ministry of Health is a bit occupied now with few PR nightmares, and sooner or later they will do in Doha what Dubai did.

By the way, I have choosen to bring up this matter again, previously it was discussed at the link below, and it seems that there are many people who have a strong opinion about it.

http://qatarliving.com/node/248069

outlet! Much "healthier" than hangin in the bars getting loaded and sneaking outside for a cig(in USA).....My 20 something son came to visit Doha and "cleaned" up his Saturday night act, smoking shisha at the souq and had fun fun fun..smoking and great conversation w/mom and dad

thats egyptian culture I believe

What culture?? do you think sheesha is "local culture"?

I don't think Doha is likely to follow, since Doha doesn't have any concern for public health.

When was the last time you saw anyone getting in trouble for smoking indoors?

hhmmm so, what's next? Doha?

Wow. But let us embrace the culture.

Bad idea.