Jump to full article: Zawya.com (ae), 2009-09-19
Author: Sumayeah Ridah Hasib (c) The Saudi Gazette 2009
Intro: Convincing teenagers to stop smoking is a tough issue for both parents and authorities at their educational institutions. Most of the teens who smoke don't show the habit while in educational institutions or at home; a majority of them smoke in public places where there are no restrictions.
"I have a right to smoke in public places, as do non-smokers to be in those public places," said Khalid Ahmed, a 23-year-old student from India.
"I took up smoking when I was 15. Since I could not smoke at home for fear of getting caught and there is no such places where we can smoke freely near my residence, like the Smokers Area at airports, I have to stick to smoking in public places," said 17-year-old Rizwanur Rahim also from India.
The setting up of smoking zones in public places has also sort of legalized smoking, a situation teenage smokers have taken advantage of, according to 19-year-old Tanweer Chowdhury from Bangladesh.
Smoking places are now located in shopping complexes, restaurants, hospitals and other public places.
. . .
Saudi Arabia ranks fourth in the world in tobacco imports and consumption. More than 15 billion cigarettes, worth $168 million, are being smoked by Saudis and expatriates every year, according to figures of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Health Ministers Council.
The Saudi Ministry of Health said that there are currently 35 anti-smoking clinics in the Kingdom
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