25 Restaurants Violate Smoking Bans

Published on July 24, 2008 7:23 AM

Salem bin Mesmar, Assistant Director-General for Health, Safety and Environment Control at the Dubai Municipality, said that 25 restaurants in the emirate have been punished with fines between Dh5,000 and Dh10,000 for violating the smoking bans in public places.

The cheap cigarettes regulations were launched in several steps beginning last year: the first step was shopping malls and centers. The second step was resorts, hotels, furnished apartments etc. and the third step was restaurants and cafes. The fourth step was Internet cafes, recreational places and entertainment.

Mesmar said: “No individual has been fined till now. Though, according to the draft law on the smoking regulations, there are fines and penalties for the individuals as well. We want to give the individuals ample time to understand the regulations. The people must be clear that the municipality could fine them and will start doing so in the near future.”

If a person violates the regulations, he will be fined Dh1,000 for the first time and the fine would double for repeated offences and could go up to Dh8,000 for the fourth violation.

The official reported the groceries selling tobacco products to people less than 20 years must quit the practice immediately. Mesmar noted: “Though we have not fined any of them till now, we will start doing it soon. The fines start at Dh2,000 for the first time and could go on doubling for repeated offences. The target would now be on the small groceries. We are also involving the inspectors of the Food Control Section for checks. We would decide on this in the future. Also, we would be targeting schools and seek cooperation of the Ministry of Education.”