Tobacco.org

• New police warning on chewing tobacco 

RAS AL KHAIMAH // Health officials and police have issued a new warning on the use of illegal chewing tobacco after their biggest find in three years.

The municipality has seized 62 kilograms of naswar in recent weeks. In the most recent raid, police and municipality officials confiscated 40kg of boxed naswar from a Sharjah-registered car at 7.30am on Thursday. The car owner was fined Dh10,000.

"It was ready to supply the markets," Adel Al Suwaidi, the manager of the municipality's Public Health and Environment Department, said yesterday.

"The problem is they sell it to children. I have received so many complaints from families. The mothers they say their children look drunk, they look high."

Another 10kg was found in a shoe shop, hidden under a wooden staircase, RAK Police said.

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• More come forward to stub out smoking 

There has been a significant increase in the number of smokers being registered at the smoking cessation clinic in Ras Al Khaimah since the beginning of Ramadan.

An average of seven smokers visit the centre daily in a bid to quit the habit. The centre has also registered a five per cent increase in the number of people giving up the habit during Ramadan compared to other months, according to the authorities.

Dr Ahmed Nasser, general practitioner and supervisor of the smoking cessation programmes at the Ras Al Khaimah Smoking Cessation Clinic, said that the centre had witnessed an increase in the number of people pledging to quit smoking and seeking for 
advice on how to give up smoking 
easily, specially during the days of 
fasting.

He stressed that the centre launched anti-smoking awareness campaigns in public areas of the emirate ten days before the beginning of Ramadan to encourage smokers in giving up the habit while fasting.

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RAK Bans Shishas on Corniche 

The Ras Al Khaimah Municipality on Monday issued a new law banning smoking of shisha in the Al Qawasim Corniche area and prohibiting littering, spitting and throwing cigarette butts on the streets and in public places in the emirate.

Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Chairman of Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, said the law was issued after receiving complaints from several residents about prevalence of bad habits including littering especially among youths and visitors of the Corniche area, which has increasingly become a popular outing destination for families.

Law No. 5 of 2010, which came into effect from the date of issue, supersedes any laws issued earlier regarding the protection of public health and 
environment.

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Most Emirates already curbing the use of tobacco  

In the absence of a federal ban on smoking in public places, individual emirates have introduced their own rules, leading to a somewhat disjointed approach to the problem of tobacco use.

Since 2007, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Dubai have introduced partial or full smoking bans.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi and Umm al Qaiwain are waiting for federal legislation to be passed.

The most recent draft, which went before the Federal National Council in February, included rules governing tobacco advertising, tobacco production and smoking in public. The law is still being amended by the Ministry of Health.

The efforts to reduce the number of smoke-friendly public places and boost education drives has not been completely hampered by the lack of a federal decree.

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• Despite Ban, Shisha Habit Spreading in Public 

RAS AL KHAIMAH -- Despite a ban on smoking of shisha outside shisha cafes and coffee houses, there's a marked increase in the number of people who can be seen puffing away in public places in Ras Al Khaimah.

The trend has sparked concern among residents about the health risks related to smoking of shisha.

Residents fear that smoking shisha in places like coffee shops poses risks to their health because shisha contains tobacco.

Ahmed Hassan, who resides in the Corniche area, said the spread of shisha outlets attracts even youngsters who are below 18 years.

He noted that in the evenings, scores of men and even women can be seen sitting in coffee shops and smoking shisha.

"Many youngsters are attracted into smoking shisha because of the sweet smell of flavoured tobacco or due to peer pressure," said Hassan.

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RAK Introduces Anti-smoking Awards for Government Departments 

Ras Al Khaimah has introduced annual anti-smoking awards for the government departments that implement the smoking ban most effectively on their premises.

The move is part of the emirate's intensive efforts to eradicate smoking in public places.

The annual awards are being organised by the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Municipality in coordination with the Department of Health Education and Information at RAK Medical District under the patronage of Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah.

Mubarak Ali Al Shamsy, Chairman of the municipality, said that the authorities have embarked on an extensive anti-tobacco campaign that will run until May next year, to fight smoking of cigarettes, shisha and water pipes in public, including government and private institutions in the emirate. . . .

Last week, medical authorities organised a conference in the emirate to raise awareness about the dangers of cigarette and shisha smoking, with an emphasis on women and young people.

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