Smoking ban in public areas takes effect in Saudi Arabia

[Kuwaiti Girl]

Smoking ban in public areas takes effect in Saudi Arabia

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/var...ublic-areas-takes-effect-in-Saudi-Arabia.html

Anti-smoking laws that took effect last week prohibit smoking in eight public areas. A royal decree was issued 12 months ago approving new regulations to curb smoking in Saudi Arabia.

“The regulations came into force on June 6 and any violations can result in fines and other penalties. The new regulations prohibit smoking in eight public areas. These include the vicinities of religious, educational, health, sport and cultural institutions, social and charity institutions,” said a source.

The source added that smoking is also prohibited in the workplace, companies, government offices, factories, banks and all public transport facilities.

“Smoking is prohibited in areas for manufacturing and processing food products and drinks, petrol, gas and fuel distribution systems, warehouses, elevators and restrooms, in addition to several unspecified public places,” said the source.

The source said if there was a smoking area in any of the public facilities, the head of the facility must make sure that the area is isolated and no one under 18 years of age enters it.

There are also eight new regulations to curb the selling of tobacco: Tobacco products may only be sold in closed containers. Tobacco should not be sold in vending machines and may not be purchased using self-serving cashiers. Tobacco may not be sold inside public transport facilities.

Tobacco may not be sold to anyone under 18. Ideas and inventions related to tobacco may not receive patent.

The source said no discounts are allowed on tobacco prices and tobacco products may not be given as gift or free samples.

“Products promoting tobacco are not to be imported, sold or offered. All tobacco products must have a label on them stating the harmful effects of smoking. Toys and candy in the form of cigarettes or any other smoking instrument are not to be sold,” said the source.

The source said ministries, public directorates, institutions, general commissions, educational, health, sports, cultural, social and philanthropic institutions and institutions in the private sector are responsible for implementing the regulations and monitoring their effectiveness.

The violation of any of the regulations can result in a fine of up to SR20,000. Smokers may be fined with SR200 for every time they are spotted smoking in a prohibited area and repeated violations result in higher fines. Violators have the right to appeal.

“The money gathered from these fines will be spent on awareness campaigns and charities related to the cause,” said the source.

 

[Hadisaeed]

They should just ban smoking everywhere xD

 

[Arabian Stallion]

Smoking ban in public areas takes effect in Saudi Arabia

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/var...ublic-areas-takes-effect-in-Saudi-Arabia.html

When reading the article and text it is not a bad law at all. Mind you, I am not a smoker outside of the occasional shisha. However eliminating smoking altogether (shisha, cigarettes, cigars etc.) would be impossible. The much famed and attended coffee shops would go bankrupt, lol. Fun aside, I am in favor of this law.

They should just ban smoking everywhere xD

That would be idiotic. If people want to smoke in private then let them. Even if banned people would continue smoking.


In other news I am still waiting for Yemen to ban or at least limit the use of qat.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khat

 

[Hadisaeed]

That would be idiotic. If people want to smoke in private then let them. Even if banned people would continue smoking.

True true that's what I meant by everywhere like in every country, what one does in private is their own choice but publicly smoking just somehow influences people with weak will

 

[الأعرابي]

Now it's time to legalize marijuana, that would be a glorious day!

 

[Arabian Stallion]

Now it's time to legalize marijuana, that would be a glorious day!

A step too far bro. Only for medical purposes.

Also it would be better to stick to khat/qat to be more original since it is a native plant and stimulant.

Anyway stimulants of any kind have never given people any lasting happiness. It's just a few moments of "joy" and in return you risk getting addictions that destroy entire lives, families, societies etc. Let alone the effects this has on your health.

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

Yemen is a perfect example of why unregulated use of a stimulant, even a mild one like khat/qat, can be fatal if not controlled.

The best thing that can be done in GCC is to FORCE people to do exercise. Banning many of those idiotic fast food chains as well! Some DDR discipline would be good, lol.

True true that's what I meant by everywhere like in every country, what one does in private is their own choice but publicly smoking just somehow influences people with weak will

I agree.

 

[الأعرابي]

A step too far bro. Only for medical purposes.

Also it would be better to stick to khat/qat to be more original since it is a native plant and stimulant.

Anyway stimulants of any kind have never given people any lasting happiness. It's just a few moments of "joy" and in return you get addictions that destroy entire lives, families, societies etc.



I agree.

Quite frankly bro I don't know enough about khat since I've never tried it. As for weed I can assure you it doesn't cause any physical addictions whatsoever unlike nicotine/tobacco. Also there isn't a single recorded death case due to marijuana/weed consumption in contrast to the hundreds of thousands that die each year due to smoking cigarettes.

I just hope we will soon follow the rest of the world and soften our laws regarding this amazing plant. My hopes aren't too high though -_-

 

[Arabian Stallion]

Quite frankly bro I don't know enough about khat since I've never tried it. As for weed I can assure you it doesn't cause any physical addictions whatsoever unlike nicotine/tobacco. Also there isn't a single recorded death case due to marijuana/weed consumption in contrast to the hundreds of thousands that die each year due to smoking cigarettes.

I just hope we will soon follow the rest of the world and soften our laws regarding this amazing plant. My hopes aren't too high though -_-

Brother, I have seen people with hashish psychosis in the West. Chronic smokers of hashish have many problems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_cannabis

Just be careful if you have tried it or use it. Not to say that it is illegal in KSA as you know. Officials are turning a blind eye to it (especially when youth is involved), especially if the drug dealing is small and only involves hashish, but anything above that, and if caught, penalties can be deadly.

I know that smoking is more deadly but I guess that we have no tolerance for drugs in our modern culture anymore. I honestly don't know how it was in old days. I believe only khat and hashish was used. I am ignorant about this as I have only tried qat/khat once in Yemen after group pressure, lol.

About the laws, yes the moronic laws should be removed, but it will take some time. Let us hope for the best on this front. However hard drugs should be combatted just like today. At least this is what I believe and what I have been taught.

Anyway I have never tried cannabis/hashish/marijuana so cannot comment personally. Only what I have read.

 

[الأعرابي]

Brother, I have seen people with hashish psychosis in the West. Chronic smokers of hashish have many problems.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-term_effects_of_cannabis

Just be careful if you have tried it or use it. Not to say that it is illegal in KSA as you know. Officials are turning a blind eye to it (especially when youth is involved), especially if the drug dealing is small and only involves hashish, but anything above that, and if caught, penalties can be deadly.

I know that smoking is more deadly but I guess that we have no tolerance for drugs in our modern culture anymore. I honestly don't know how it was in old days. I believe only khat and hashish was used. I am ignorant about this as I have only tried qat/khat once in Yemen after group pressure, lol.

About the laws, yes the moronic laws should be removed, but it will take some time. Let us hope for the best on this front. However hard drugs should be combatted just like today. At least this is what I believe and what I have been taught.

Anyway I have never tried cannabis/hashish/marijuana so cannot comment personally. Only what I have read.

Most people that have these issues usually mix weed with tobacco then mistake the negative effects to be from weed, I've already done quite the research about weed and went through multiple sources and found most of them with the exception of a few "outdated" sources to have positive info about it. Also it's worth noting that it's impossible to overdose with weed like other drugs out there, also unlike other "hardcore" drugs and nicotine it has no withdrawal symptoms which means no physical addiction whatsoever.

And yes I agree anything above hash like hardcore drugs is no game and its ban shouldn't be questionable.