Tobacco.org

• Smoking Ban Plan Sparks Mixed Response 

The Syrian government plans to ban smokers from lighting up in enclosed public places in a bid to curb rising numbers of tobacco-related deaths, the health ministry announced last month.

The ban, to be imposed in all shops, offices, bars, restaurants and bus stations, will affect the roughly five million Syrians – a massive 20 per cent of the entire population – who smoke at least once a day, according to surveys by the Syrian Centre for Tobacco Studies.

Smokers caught breaking the rules will face steep fines and the possibility of a jail sentence, said Bassam Abu al-Thahab, director of the health ministry’s department for combating smoking.

The draft law, which follows a July 2008 prohibition on smoking in government buildings, will include cigars, pipes and even the traditional water pipe or nargile – a major attraction in many Damascus bars and restaurants.

Once the supporting legislation is passed, health ministry officials plan to gradually bring in the ban over the period until 2013.

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