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johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 12:39 pm Post subject: Smoking

"Saudi Arabia Bans Smoking In Most Public Places

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping malls.

The ban includes smoking of water-pipes, or shishas, and prohibits selling tobacco to those under the age of 18.

The official SPA news agency says Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin Abdulaziz has ordered that a royal ban on smoking be implemented as of Monday. He is cited as saying that Islam urges the preservation of public health.

The ban is a significant step-up in the kingdom's anti-smoking campaign. Saudi Arabia banned smoking in its airports last year.

Saudi statistics say the country is the world's fourth largest importer of tobacco and that six million Saudis spend about 30 million Saudi riyals (about $8 million) a day on cigarettes."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/saudi-arabia-smoking-ban_n_1718619.html

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

Smoking banned in Saudi Arabia??? Well ain't that som'n Laughing

Despite the fact that nearly everything else is banned here, this one is a no brainer! Even though we all know the health risks etc etc, smoking's the only vice left that can be openly indulged anywhere (almost) without getting arrested, fined or both. (at least for men, I have never seen a woman smoking in public)

I guess the next step will be to jack up the price of them to an unreasonable level to force the last of the addicts to give it up...the rest stupid enough to continue smoking will probably let their families starve back home to support their habit.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I have seen local women smoking Sheeshah in one of the fancy hotels. Mind you that was 15 years ago !

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 3:09 pm Post subject:

Think of it as a double entendre: Whoa - she's smokin' under that niqab Very Happy

.

Regards,
John

2buckets · Joined: 14 Dec 2010 Posts: 515 Location: Middle East

Yeah, but how will it be enforced?

Saudi men will do as they please. Do you think the TCN security guards will dare bother them?

johnslat · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 7:16 pm Post subject:

Dear 2buckets,

I'm sure it will be just as strictly enforced as, say, the traffic laws and laws against the consumption of alcohol are. Very Happy

Regards,
John

rdobbs98 · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 236

Probably more about actually following Islam, I'm Muslim and smoking is prohibited in Islam because you are destroying God's creation.

Quran 2:195

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 12:17 am Post subject:

Dear rdobbs98,

I believe excessive alcohol consumption and excessive speed have been known to destroy God's creation as well.

Regards,
John

rdobbs98 · Joined: 08 Oct 2010 Posts: 236

Yes you are correct, nothing but hypocrites in the "holy land". As a Muslim it is funny to see those who act super pious in front of everyone but then only to find out how bad they are behind the scenes. Pretty bad when you can get prostitutes (male or female), alcohol, cigarettes, etc. in a place the "Haya" run around and beat women for not wearing an abaya or hijab.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 1:06 am Post subject:

Dear rdobbs98

Well " . . . nothing but hypocrites . . ." may be overstating the case a little. But I'd say that they do seem to have more than their fair share. Very Happy

Regards,
John

Muhammed Abbas Khan · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 73

I recall from my time in KSA that smoking was not that much of an issue in the malls in Riyadh. However, the malls in Sharqiyah (western region - dharan in particular) made the mall like a gas chamber when passing starbucks or the other coffee shops. This as well when children are obviously present as well as non-smokers. I think this is a move in the right direction.

Muhammed Abbas Khan · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 73

I recall from my time in KSA that smoking was not that much of an issue in the malls in Riyadh. However, the malls in Sharqiyah (western region - dharan in particular) made the mall like a gas chamber when passing starbucks or the other coffee shops. This as well when children are obviously present as well as non-smokers. I think this is a move in the right direction.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I seem to have double vision double vision.