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AUDIO: WATER PIPE SMOKING 

At the European Society of Cardiology's meeting at the Saudi Heart Association's Annual Conference in Riyadh Professor Hani Najm suggested that water pipes are contributing to a time-bomb of heart disease in the Gulf States.

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• Saudi- Smoking preventers rewarded 

Security officers who were responsible for preventing smoking inside the Ministry of Health have received a 15 percent increase in their salaries.

On Tuesday Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah commended the services of the security officers who he said have contributed a great deal in maintaining a tobacco-free environment at his ministry.

Speaking to the officers at his office, Al-Rabeeah said they had strictly adhered to a directive issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to maintain a smoke-free environment at all ministries and government departments. . . .

A global survey of the prevalence of smoking among young people in Saudi Arabia covered some 50 secondary schools in the Kingdom, including 25 girls' schools. A total of 1,715 students including 927 female students were interviewed.

The findings were the outcome of a study conducted recently in the Kingdom by the Ministry of Health in cooperation with the World Health Organization and the Atlanta-based Center For Disease Control on smoking among young people in Saudi Arabia.

The study revealed 30 percent of young people are passive smokers in their own homes and 65 percent of the teenage smokers have a desire to quit smoking. . . .

The study pointed out 25.3 percent feel smokers among men are smarter than nonsmokers, while 17.5 percent assume that girls who smoke are trendy.

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• Accelerate fight against smokers 

Countries in the last few years have accelerated the fight against smoking and restricting smokers, in addition to taking measures to prevent smoking in public areas, institutions and public sectors.

The decision to ban smoking in closed areas has been implemented and it is also in place in “Shisha” cafés for the last few years. All these measures are being taken to restrict the scope of smokers due to the widespread growth of this habit, especially among young kids, teenagers and girls.

This is also done to minimize the spread of this deadly phenomenon in the society, . . .

Through country’s regulatory and governmental agencies concern toward adopting educational awareness campaigns that target smokers and restricts them to limit the spread of this plague among individuals in the society, “Naqa’a”, an anti-smoke association, adopted a new idea that assists in limiting the scope of smokers and go after them until they quit this deadly poison.

This idea was essentially dependent on annoying smokers through advertising board systems enclosing a sensitive smoke sensor. So as it detects smoke, it starts sending out noisy cough sounds causing the smoker to wonder and pointing his attention to the awareness messages on the advertising board. Then with the increasing noisy sound of cough, the smoker will quit smoking.

The association will distribute this system in malls, streets, hospitals, as well as companies, and private and governmental institutions in an attempt to discourage smokers and reduce their use of tobacco cigarettes.

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The side effects of smoking shisha  

Numerous cafes and restaurants serving shisha or hubble-bubble have become a disturbing feature and pose a menace due to health hazards and air pollution.

What is really serious about the phenomenon is that most shisha smokers wrongfully take to the hubble-bubble thinking that it poses only “light” health risks compared to the serious health-related complications of cigarette smoking.

Medical experts have warned that shisha has a more perilous impact on health compared to cigarette smoking. They say most shisha smokers have a misconception based on a wrongful and unscientific notion that tobacco used in shisha is herbal and does not affect body organs.

It is to be noted that in their efforts to combat smoking, the health ministers of the GCC states have proposed a hike in the fees of commercial license issued for cafes and restaurants serving shisha in the member countries.

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Measures to stem spread of habit - Arab News 

Replying to queries from Arab News, the Supervisory Department of the Anti-smoking Committee at the Ministry of Health gave the following clarifications:

1. There are several preventive measures to stop spreading shisha smoking in the Saudi society. They include:

• Taking steps to correct the wrong notions prevailing in the society about shisha smoking such as it is safer and less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it would not cause addiction because the smoke is passing through liquid ingredients before inhaling it, and that shisha smoking is not regular and continuous like cigarette smoking as it is being taken in one sitting or two in a day. But the scientifically proved reality is contrary to these claims.

• To highlight the fact that burning used charcoal for shisha causes emission of cancerous chemical compounds. . . .

• It is also to be highlighted that shisha smoking may be a carrier of contagious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis.

2. Intensifying campaign thorough the visual media against shisha smoking. This could be done indirectly through serials and films and also social networking sites that can produce positive impact in the minds of people.

3. Prevent spreading of shisha smoking through rest houses and coffee shops.

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• It’s high time to ban shisha smoking 

Shisha smoking has become a widespread habit among various sections of Saudi society.

A large number of elders are now addicts of Shisha while young adults are very much fond of smoking it. Shisha is being served at most public places, including parks, gardens, and beach cabins, as well as at restaurants and coffee shops.

Even though smoking was banned in public places, shisha was available at some of these places. . . .

It is noteworthy that a number of countries have enacted legislation to ban all types of smoking, including shisha at public places. It is high time for the Kingdom also to introduce such legislation against shisha smoking.

While speaking to Arab News, a number of men and women representing various age groups of the Saudi society stressed this point. They voiced their resentment over this habit, which is becoming a grave phenomenon.

They underlined the need for intensifying inspections and monitoring at public places to prevent all types of smoking and take punitive measures against the violators.

The 36-year-old Mais, mother of three, called on authorities to issue directives to set apart separate areas for serving shisha outside restaurants, parks and beach cabins, away from children and young adults. . . .

Reem, aged 29, is a shisha smoker both at home and outside. She says that shisha smoking has become part of her daily routine mainly because of a lot of free time. “I tried my best to stop smoking, especially shisha, several times but to no avail.

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• Measures to stem spread of habit  

Replying to queries from Arab News, the Supervisory Department of the Anti-smoking Committee at the Ministry of Health gave the following clarifications:

1. There are several preventive measures to stop spreading shisha smoking in the Saudi society. They include:

• Taking steps to correct the wrong notions prevailing in the society about shisha smoking such as it is safer and less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it would not cause addiction because the smoke is passing through liquid ingredients before inhaling it, and that shisha smoking is not regular and continuous like cigarette smoking as it is being taken in one sitting or two in a day. But the scientifically proved reality is contrary to these claims.

• To highlight the fact that burning used charcoal for shisha causes emission of cancerous chemical compounds.

• Spread the message that products used with tobacco in shisha smoking such as flavors, and fruit essence would result in chemical reactions that are harmful.

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• Shisha worse than cigarettes 

Smoking shisha has become a trend for the young, and is a common sight witnessed in the coastal city of Jeddah. Indoor and outdoor cafés, restaurants, and coffee shops overlooking the beautiful Red Sea overflow with customers, who have shisha pipes by their table, and are happily puffing smoke.

It is not unusual to find a woman’s face behind the cloud of grey smoke or to find young children sitting right beside smoking parents. It has been estimated that half of all smokers will die from smoking related illnesses.

Many people believe that smoking shisha is a safe alternative to smoking. Little, do they realize that smoking shisha is more dangerous than having a cigarette. . . .

Several Saudi doctors and dentists who are strong advocates against smoking attended the conference in the United States to help them continue their anti-smoking awareness campaign in the Kingdom. Among the attendees were Dr. Nadia Al-Hazmi, Dr. Danya Al-Aqaili, and Dr. Manal Shams.

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• Smoking in public may soon be banned 

The National Anti-Tobacco Committee (NATC) is expected to request King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, to issue a decision banning smoking in public places.

The proposal was made during a meeting chaired by Dr, Abdullah Al-Rabea, Minister of Health, in Riyadh, Thursday.

The minister said the committee would ask “the ministries of Commerce and Industry and Municipal and Rural Affairs to issue a law banning the selling of tobacco to children. It will also restrict the selling of tobacco to those who are licensed against paying a certain amount of fees.”

The NATC Secretary General, Dr. Majed Al-Muneef, called for the enforcement of GCC Council of Health Ministers’ recommendations governing the marketing and promotion of tobacco products.

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• Mina Shalabi annoys Saudis by smoking in public  

Egyptian actress Mina Shalabi encountered an embarrassing situation during her recent visit to Saudi Arabia to attend the ‘Saudi Forum for the Unity of Arab Countries in the Fight against Aids’ as a number of Saudis reprimanded her for smoking in the lobby of the hotel she was staying at. In addition a number of the attendees of the forum were irritated by Mina’s constant smoking as she walked around the hotel and the centers where medical tests were being performed. . . .

Many considered Mina’s refusal to keep her smoking habit a private one and done in her room a sign of stubbornness on her part and saw her actions as a sign of disrespect to the Saudi Ministry of Health that was sponsoring the event and a very active member in the anti-smoking campaign.

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• “Tobacco Control” recommends the banning of smoking in public places 

His Excellency, Minister of Health & Director of the National Committee for Tobacco Control Dr. Abdulla Bin Abdul Azeez Al Rabiaa led, at the end of last week in his Ministry Council Office, the third meeting of the National Committee for Tobacco Control. The key recommendations agreed about in the said meeting were to raise a request to the royal authority for issuing a decision which bans smoking in public areas. It was agreed, as well, to address each of Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Municipal & rural Affairs in regard to issuing an organizational decision for prohibiting the selling of tobacco products to the youngsters and restricting such sale by a special license and for a fixed fee.

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New Market Research Report: Cigarettes in Saudi Arabia 

Recently published research from Euromonitor International, "Cigarettes in Saudi Arabia", is now available at Fast Market Research

Saudi Arabia has recently seen a rise in health awareness thanks to the rapidly growing health care system and increased government measures. In addition, private businesses have also sought to discourage smoking by launching awareness campaigns about the dangers of smoking; for example, some restaurants and cafes have no smoking areas or do not allow smoking inside their premises. Although such measures have not helped to bring down the number of smokers in the country, they have helped shift...

Euromonitor International's Cigarettes in Saudi Arabia report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data 2006-2010, allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be the new legislative, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2015 illustrate how the market is set to change.

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• Anti-smoking programs need assistance from private sector  

* RIYADH - The growing number of young smokers in the Kingdom has spurred calls by the Shoura Council for more initiatives to raise awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco, especially among youth.

They want campaigns similar to "Riyadh: A Smoke-free City" in other cities of the Kingdom, along with more measures to help smokers kick the habit and prevent others from starting it.

The campaign in Riyadh, which was jointly launched five years ago by the Anti-Smoking Charity Organization (Naqa) and the Sulaiman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi Charity Organization, changed the perspective of Riyadh's society regarding smoking and raised awareness about the importance of fighting it, organizers said.

Members of the Shoura Council, who are discussing the implementation of an anti-smoking law, also warned against advertisements that promote tobacco, a recent report in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily said. . . .

"If we look at the magnitude of this problem and its detrimental effects on health, society and economy, rapidly growing number of smokers of different ages who squander their money on smoking and the increasing rate of diseases caused by smoking, we will realize that it is important for all civil organizations to join forces to combat tobacco," he said.

Smoking is a national problem and all relevant authorities such as ministries of health, commerce, information and education and Customs Authority should participate in efforts to fight smoking, Dr. Khoja added.

Dr. Khoja wondered why private sector companies and non-profit organizations, which have social responsibilities, do not adopt initiatives similar to those of the Al-Rajhi Charity Organization.

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Local Press: Saudi women and smoking  

A recent report revealed that the number of smokers in Saudi Arabia has reached more than 6 million.

I find this number very strange, especially in an educated society that realizes the dangers of smoking, whether they are health, social or financial hazards.

What caught my attention in this high number is that out of these 6 million smokers, 1 million are women. This number is big and scary.

Besides the dangers, what is the woman smoker going to tell her children at home when they see her smoking as she is supposed to be a role model for them?

What is the smoking woman teacher going to tell her students at school when they find out that she smokes?

The gentle and beautiful women should not sully their lips with cigarettes.

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Saudi- Cigarette prices go up 20 percent 

Cigarette prices have gone up nearly 20 percent in the Kingdom after international suppliers increased charges following an oil price hike.

Abdul Rahman Al-Kharb, director general of Customs, said his department has not imposed any increase in tariff on cigarette imports.

Smokers said they have to now pay an extra one riyal for every packet of cigarette. "For a cigarette packet that was sold for SR6, we have to pay now SR7," one smoker said.

Shop owners said the increase in prices did not prevent any smoker from continuing the bad habit. They said they were expecting the increase a long time ago.

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