BAHRAIN is stepping up its ban on smoking in public places, with restaurants first in the firing line.
Restaurants which have failed to designate separate, sealed-off areas for smokers are being served final warnings, it was revealed yesterday.
Action is also underway to extend the ban soon to all workplaces (including ministries) as wells as hotels, said primary care and public health assistant under-secretary Dr Mariam Al Jalahma.
Thousands of people caught smoking in closed public places have already been warned and in future offenders may be fined, she said.
"While no place has yet been fined or closed down for violating the law, the notices make it clear they have to comply or face closure," said Dr Al Jalahma.
She said the authorities had given six months' grace to restaurants and were now checking all of them to see if they had complied.
"In many cases, those who have finished the six-month period but have not complied, have been given a final ultimatum. This may last a few weeks at the most," said Dr Al Jalahma.
The grace period for different restaurants will expire at different times during the year.
"We hope by the end of the year, all restaurants will have complied," she said.
Violators could face fines of up to BD1,000, or closure if they continue to offend, under a new draft law signed by Health Minister Dr Faisal Al Hamer in February.
Dr Al Jalahma said many of the nearly 7,000 restaurants had already started implementing the directive.
The new rule also stipulates that children must not be allowed into smoking areas, even if they are accompanied by an adult.
Dr Al Jalahma said more than 7,000 under-18s had been caught smoking at various public places in Bahrain by health inspectors in the first four months of the year and were reported to their parents.
More than 5,000 smokers caught breaking the ban in malls were also told to stub out their cigarettes by health inspectors, working with security staff.
Another 1,500 men and 100 women were warned for smoking in no-smoking areas in other buildings, such as restaurants.
Twenty per cent of Bahrainis are smokers, according to the latest survey, said Dr Al Jalahma.
mandeep@gdn.com.bh
