Tobacco sale to minors: Law goes up in smoke

Dubai Despite the ban on selling tobacco to minors, groceries and supermarkets continue to openly flout the rules, XPRESS has discovered.

After Dubai Municipality issued a public notice last week banning sale of tobacco to those under the age of 20, XPRESS took to the streets with a 16-year-old volunteer, Mohammad Al Madani, to find out if the rules were really being adhered to.

The results were surprising.

Of the seven groceries and supermarkets surveyed, four were found flouting the law. At Choithram in Al Safa area, Al Madani walked in and bought a packet of Marlboro Lights. Ironically, even though a notice was put up at every cash register, Al Madani was never asked for his identification.

I am surprised to hear this. I didn’t expect it from places such as these. Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, Director of Public Health department, Dubai Municipality

Sachin Tandon, assistant branch manager, said: "This is a mistake. We always ask for identification proof. I think the cashier forgot to do so because there were many people waiting in the queue."

Against the rules

The team’s next stop was Ghulam Reza Farji and Partners supermarket on Shaikh Zayed Road. The owner, Hussain Reza, looked at the volunteer and inquired about his age. Al Madani said he was 17 and would turn 18 next month. Reza told Al Madani to "put the cigarette in your pocket when you go out. We are not allowed to sell cigarettes to minors".

When confronted, Reza said, "The boy told me he wanted cigarettes for his father. We have put up a notice that we do not sell cigarettes to those under 18." He, however, admitted that his shop was shut down two years ago for selling tobacco to minors.

Al Madani said that he never mentioned anything about buying cigarettes for his father.

At Spinneys in Mercato Mall, Al Madani walked out with a pack of cigarettes without any questions being asked. Vinod, the assistant branch manager, said: "The cashier is a new recruit but she is aware of the law. I don’t know how she committed this mistake."

When questioned if they follow the 18- or 20-year-old limit, he insisted that they were following the under-18 age limit, but later said that they were following the new municipality laws.

The law that bans sale of tobacco products to youth under 18 has been in place for a long time, but implementation was lax thus far.

Al Dhabi Foodstuff, another grocery, also sold a packet of cigarettes to Al Madani.

Some exceptions

However, there were some exceptions among the lot.

Safestway supermarket and Al Midwak Smoking Accessories, both located on Shaikh Zayed Road, refused to sell cigarettes to Al Madani. So did Faras Al Shraa Grocery, whose shopkeeper asked for his ID.

But a young boy walked out of the grocery a few moments later with a midwakh (a smoking pipe) in his hand.

The boy said: "The owner knows me. Does your friend want some? I can buy it for him."

He got into a waiting taxi and took off when asked for his ID.

Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, Director of Public Health Department, Dubai Municipality said: "I am surprised to hear this. I didn’t expect it from places such as Spinneys and Choithram."

She promised to send their inspectors to these retail outlets immediately.

Tough new laws: Widening the net

In an extension of the campaign prohibiting tobacco sales to those below 20, Dubai Municipality will now begin targeting amusement and entertainment centres.

"Next week, we will be announcing that smoking will be prohibited in amusement and entertainment areas such as billiard halls, arcades and internet cafés," said Zuhoor Al Sabbagh, Director of Public Health Department at Dubai Municipality.

"These areas attract lots of children. Most of their clients are under the age of 20, who can be exposed to second-hand smoke."

Zuhoor also said that Dubai Municipality began enforcing the law that prohibits anyone under the age of 20 from entering a smoking area, including tobacco shops, shisha cafés and designated smoking areas.

While these rules have been introduced by Dubai, a federal anti-tobacco law is in the final stages of being passed, and will be applicable across the seven emirates. Once implemented, a slew of regulations will be enforced. Shops will be fined up to Dh10,000 if they sell cigarettes to minors. They will also not be allowed to display cigarettes at cash counters, said Dr Wedad.

Al Maidour, head of the anti-smoking committee at the Ministry of Health.

"There has to be a specific area to sell cigarettes. Any shop breaking the law will have to pay a fine of Dh 10,000," she said.

Prohibited areas: Amusement and entertainment areas, offices, cinemas, meeting and conference halls, food courts, prayer rooms and ablution areas, all shops and showrooms, closed car parks, entrances, reception and waiting areas, walkways, elevators, staircases, lavatories, places close to food self-service

Permitted areas: Designated smoking rooms, restaurants and cafés (smoking areas only), enclosed bars and night clubs