Jump to full article: Associated Press (AP), 2009-06-29
Author: DONNA ABU-NASR
Intro: The catchy slogan, "Kicking the habit is on you, and marriage is on us," is meant to entice young grooms to give up smoking by offering an attractive incentive.
And, indeed, hundreds have expressed interest in the first anti-smoking drive of its kind in the kingdom, with one man saying he is ready to take up smoking just to be eligible for the grand prize — an all-expenses-paid wedding.
In much of the Arab world, the groom alone bears the cost of getting married, including an expensive party, a dowry and a fully furnished house. Men often put off marriage until they've saved enough money to take a bride.
Several commentators have complained that the campaign is turning women into a commodity, but organizers have taken the criticism in stride, saying they're thrilled to get people talking about the dangers of smoking. About one quarter of Saudi Arabia's 27.6 million residents indulge.
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Another commentator, Suzan al-Mashhady, noted that Arabs have criticized the West for using women to promote merchandise. "Today, we're using ... the same two-in-one method adopted by a hair product that promises to clean the hair and condition it at the same time," she wrote in the Al-Hayat newspaper.
Al-Majdali said many have misunderstood the slogan.
"Did we say we're offering a woman?" he said.
"In any case, the fact that people are discussing the campaign means we have fulfilled our goal of spreading the word about it," he added.
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