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The GCC countries are not planning an increase in the currently imposed 100 per cent customs duty on tobacco as such a move might lead to contraband of the product and its sale at reduced prices, Qatar's Finance Minister said on Thursday.
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Tobacco addiction is not recognised as a major problem in Oman, where laws are in place to counter the menace of smoking in the country.
And, the need to update mechanism to ensure that the anti-smoking legislation is enforced is never felt necessary more than now when the "World No Tobacco Day" is being celebrated globally today under the aegis of the World Health Organisation (WHO). . .
A comprehensive tobacco control law is a must to monitor and combat the sale of tobacco products to youngsters. Interestingly, those who sell tobacco products are only covered by a commercial license in Oman, at least at present. . .
However, the impact of Bollywood (Indian films) and Hollywood films cannot be denied on the youth of this country. Thus it would definitely have an indirect impact.
The youth of Oman (and other GCC member states) are more geared towards sporting activities, mainly soccer.
Thus Oman has taken a prudent step of banning advertising or promoting of sporting activities by the tobacco-related products.
Oman is planning to open a unique anti-smoking clinic soon. Although such a plan was mooted earlier, it did not take off. But, a renewed effort is being made now to bring out such a clinic, Sabah Al Bahlani, director of health education and information, Ministry of Health (MoH), told the Times of Oman yesterday. . .
This year the theme of World No-Tobacco Day is ‘tobacco in the film and fashion industry’. The tobacco industry seems to have found a new method to advertise cigarettes – through movies, films, fashion, etc, where stars and celebrities openly flaunt smoking.
‘Celebrity-crazy’ teenagers were easily lapping up such acts. These youngsters emulated their matinee idols by picking up these awful practices and the tragedy was that some unfortunately got addicted to it.
Oman, through the MoH, has also been trying hard to stem the practice of some errant shopkeepers who sell cigarettes to children under 18.
With smoking poseing a life threatening risk to one in four Omanis the country's health officials are considering legislation to protect the rights of non-smokers, as passive smoking is also harmful to health.
"We are not talking about a complete ban on smoking but creating separate areas for smokers, especially in public places," said Jawad Al Lawatia, the Head of Non-Communicable Diseases at Oman's Ministry of Health.
He was talking at the WHO office in Oman during a presentation of The World Health Report on Reducing Risks and Promoting Healthy Life.
Al Lawatia pointed out that at the moment mainly men were affected by the menace of smoking but sounded the alert that cigarette companies had started targeting women too.
MUSCAT Dr Ahmed bin Abdul Qader Al Ghassani, health affairs undersecretary at the Ministry of Health, yesterday presided over a function organised by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the WHO to honour the winners of quit-smoking compe-tition.
The competition, organised in the Sultanate for the second time, was held between May 2 and May 29, encouraging smokers to quit the habit.
Oman has moved to reinforce a ban on smoking the Arab water pipe in public. The pipe is very popular in the evening during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which has begun on November 16.
Newspapers on Sunday published a statement from the municipalities and the environmental and water resources ministry urging all local authorities "to tighten the ban on shishas in cafes, restaurants, hotels and public places."
The ban was first imposed in April to deter what was described as a "public nuisance".
BAT's John Player Gold Leaf ocean going sailing boat slipped silently into a private marina in Oman on 8 November, and slipped just as silently out again three days later. . .
Health officials in the Gulf sultanate believe that the distinctly low key nature of the visit was the result of strong pressure on municipal authorities and the Ministry of Commerce not to grant the floating cigarette ad any promotional permits, as well as official representations to government owned newspapers.