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.
Get weekly health news
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.
- Nova Scotia aims to reduce mammogram wait times, enhance women’s health care
- Anthrax outbreak kills more than 50 animals, infects 12 people in Zambia
- Childhood Cancer Canada calls for $15M from feds as demand rises
- ‘E-dirt bikes are not toys’: E.R. doc fears more injuries after 2 kids hit in Edmonton
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.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.