smoking ban went into effect today in Lebanon

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A smoking ban in all closed public spaces, including coffee shops, restaurants and bars, went into force in Lebanon on Monday under new legislation that promises hefty fines for lawbreakers.

Endorsed by Lebanon’s parliament last year, the law also bans tobacco advertisements, which have been criticized for luring young people into smoking.

Smokers caught lighting up in a closed public space face a $90 penalty, while restaurant or cafe owners who turn a blind eye to offenders could be fined anything from $900 to $2,700.

The number of smokers in Lebanon is among the highest in the region and cancer-related illnesses directly linked to tobacco are rising at a rapid rate, health professionals say.

Still, there is speculation as to how far the new ban can actually hold in a country where cigarette, cigar and nargileh (water-pipe) smoking is so popular and widespread.

Some 46 percent of Lebanese men and 31 percent of women are regular cigarette smokers, according to World Health Organization figures that date back to November 2010.

Cigarette packs cost little over a dollar, a price even many Lebanese teenagers can afford.

But rather than focus on the potential health benefits, many have focused on the potential economic cost of the new law.

Lebanese restaurant and cafe owners have cried foul, warning that nargileh cafe owners especially will suffer.

Protest against the ban

Hundreds of Lebanese restaurant owners held a protest on Monday in the Metn town of Antelias to protest the smoking ban that came into effect Monday in Lebanon, LBC televison reported.

“Have mercy on tourism” read one of the banners

On the other hand the head of the parliamentary health committee, Atef Majdalani, told Voice of Lebanon (93.3) radio that the objections which have been raised against the smoking ban were “unjustifiable.”

“The tourism sector will not be [negatively] affected by this law,” he said, adding that people would still be allowed to smoke in open spaces, such as rooftops, balconies, and patios.

Commenting on the ban , Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud told VOL that the task of monitoring the implementation of the new law was “very difficult.”

The minister also said that “any possible law amendments need to be discussed with the legislative authority and not through taking to the streets.”

Al Arabiya

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69 responses to “smoking ban went into effect today in Lebanon”

  1. FINALLY!!!

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Ban this, ban that … sort of a religion, eh Hannibal? 😉
      Those of us with a smoke and a scotch in hand salute the ones trying to ‘save’ us … even as the bombs fall.
      Hope you have the decency to stay out of my bedroom. 😉

      1. It is to my advantage to care about your health… I like your politics… LOL 😛 I promise though your bedroom is yours. 

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Oh thanks. Nice answer.
          (Damn liberal always has a good answer … probably knows I use a ‘safe’ in the bedroom anyway …)
          😉

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Oh thanks. Nice answer.
          (Damn liberal always has a good answer … probably knows I use a ‘safe’ in the bedroom anyway …)
          😉

      2. Patience2 Avatar

        Maybe they’re trying to save THEMSELVES, –and– their children from ‘second hand smoke’ ?? The Scotch? Well, that’s fine.

        And about the supermarket … hmmm, I never thought about it, but you’re right!

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Fine … Only until 18 or 21 or whatever ‘age-ban’ is applied wherever you are … after that it’s all about taxes anyway. Right? 😉
          Legalize the pot, and restrict it to ‘outdoors’ too. Might help with some of the politics ….

        2. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

      3. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

    2. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Ban this, ban that … sort of a religion, eh Hannibal? 😉
      Those of us with a smoke and a scotch in hand salute the ones trying to ‘save’ us … even as the bombs fall.
      Hope you have the decency to stay out of my bedroom. 😉

      1. Patience2 Avatar

        Maybe they’re trying to save THEMSELVES, –and– their children from ‘second hand smoke’ ?? The Scotch? Well, that’s fine.

        And about the supermarket … hmmm, I never thought about it, but you’re right!

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Fine … Only until 18 or 21 or whatever ‘age-ban’ is applied wherever you are … after that it’s all about taxes anyway. Right? 😉
          Legalize the pot, and restrict it to ‘outdoors’ too. Might help with some of the politics ….

        2. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

      2. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

    3. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

       If they can’t stop kidnapping, how are they going to stop smoking?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Hehehehehe

        1. yu hot mr yu smoke mr

    4. when the chinese learn to say 3 instead of TREE thats when wel learn to adhere to smoking rules….you know they have takeaway arigili in lebanon delivered to your door ready to go….

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        I like when they drop one beside a table of friends after a good meal … it’s a ‘feeling’ thing.
        Going to be hard on such a friendly culture …

        And we can see by this batch of ‘comments’ everyone enjoys something about it.
        If not the smoke …. :-))))

    5. when the chinese learn to say 3 instead of TREE thats when wel learn to adhere to smoking rules….you know they have takeaway arigili in lebanon delivered to your door ready to go….

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        I like when they drop one beside a table of friends after a good meal … it’s a ‘feeling’ thing.
        Going to be hard on such a friendly culture …

        And we can see by this batch of ‘comments’ everyone enjoys something about it.
        If not the smoke …. :-))))

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Ban this, ban that … sort of a religion, eh Hannibal? 😉
      Those of us with a smoke and a scotch in hand salute the ones trying to ‘save’ us … even as the bombs fall.
      Hope you have the decency to stay out of my bedroom. 😉

      1. It is to my advantage to care about your health… I like your politics… LOL 😛 I promise though your bedroom is yours. 

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Oh thanks. Nice answer.
          (Damn liberal always has a good answer … probably knows I use a ‘safe’ in the bedroom anyway …)
          😉

      2. Patience2 Avatar

        Maybe they’re trying to save THEMSELVES, –and– their children from ‘second hand smoke’ ?? The Scotch? Well, that’s fine.

        1. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Fine … Only until 18 or 21 or whatever ‘age-ban’ is applied wherever you are … after that it’s all about taxes anyway. Right? 😉
          Legalize the pot, and restrict it to ‘outdoors’ too. Might help with some of the politics ….

        2. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

      3. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

    2. breakthemould Avatar
      breakthemould

       If they can’t stop kidnapping, how are they going to stop smoking?

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        Hehehehehe

        1. yu hot mr yu smoke mr

    3. when the chinese learn to say 3 instead of TREE thats when wel learn to adhere to smoking rules….you know they have takeaway arigili in lebanon delivered to your door ready to go….

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        I like when they drop one beside a table of friends after a good meal … it’s a ‘feeling’ thing.
        Going to be hard on such a friendly culture …

        And we can see by this batch of ‘comments’ everyone enjoys something about it.
        If not the smoke …. :-))))

  2. Sakhtein. Well, the next step the Lebanese government should do is peace with Israel, so we would be able to visit the smoking-free Lebanese restaurants (and vice versa) , and start the real, merciless war until the bitter end… who’s hoummus and falafel are the best, Israeli or Lebanese:)  

  3. Sakhtein. Well, the next step the Lebanese government should do is peace with Israel, so we would be able to visit the smoking-free Lebanese restaurants (and vice versa) , and start the real, merciless war until the bitter end… who’s hoummus and falafel are the best, Israeli or Lebanese:)  

    1. I make you a deal peace if you take back all the Palestinians… 🙂

    2. yu eat hummuos mr i like fowl mr falafel ok mr

      1. What language are you writing? 

        1. We in this forum call it Dabanese after his name…

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          Dab IS a special guy. 🙂

  4. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Because the highest tax-base gets first choice? Or all the sickies should be hidden at the back? 🙂
      It IS a mystery …  :-)))

      1. ive got more?…..Why  do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet  coke?Why  do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the  counters?Why  do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in our driveways and put our  useless junk in the garage?EVER  WONDER …Why  the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?Why  can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed?Why  don’t you ever see the headline ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?Why  is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word?Why  is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?Why  is lemon juice made with artificial flavoring, and dish washing liquid  made with real lemons?Why  is the man who invests all your money called a broker?Why  is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush  hour?Why  isn’t there mouse-flavoured cat food?Why  didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?Why  do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?You  know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t  they make the whole plane out of that stuff??Why  don’t sheep shrink when it rains?Why  are they called apartments when they are all stuck  together?If  flying is so safe,  why do  they call the airport the terminal?

        1. lol
          Why do they call the place you park a driveway and the place you drive a parkway?

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          God, Dateam !! … now I have MORE research to do … 🙁

        3. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
          nayyashAl3arab

          intelligent people speak because they have things to say; idiots speak just to say things; am also thinking of the two genius below you namely the researcher 5th drawer & the MIT graduate hanibal

        4. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
          nayyashAl3arab

          intelligent people speak because they have things to say; idiots speak just to say things; am also thinking of the two genius below you namely the researcher 5th drawer & the MIT graduate hanibal

  5. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

  6. Why do supermarkets make  the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their  prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the  front?

    1. 5thDrawer Avatar

      Because the highest tax-base gets first choice? Or all the sickies should be hidden at the back? 🙂
      It IS a mystery …  :-)))

      1. ive got more?…..Why  do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet  coke?Why  do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the  counters?Why  do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in our driveways and put our  useless junk in the garage?EVER  WONDER …Why  the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?Why  can’t women put on mascara with their mouth closed?Why  don’t you ever see the headline ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?Why  is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word?Why  is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?Why  is lemon juice made with artificial flavoring, and dish washing liquid  made with real lemons?Why  is the man who invests all your money called a broker?Why  is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush  hour?Why  isn’t there mouse-flavoured cat food?Why  didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes?Why  do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?You  know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t  they make the whole plane out of that stuff??Why  don’t sheep shrink when it rains?Why  are they called apartments when they are all stuck  together?If  flying is so safe,  why do  they call the airport the terminal?

        1. lol
          Why do they call the place you park a driveway and the place you drive a parkway?

        2. 5thDrawer Avatar

          God, Dateam !! … now I have MORE research to do … 🙁

        3. nayyashAl3arab Avatar
          nayyashAl3arab

          intelligent people speak because they have things to say; idiots speak just to say things; am also thinking of the two genius below you namely the researcher 5th drawer & the MIT graduate hanibal

  7. Patience2 Avatar

    I think this should be implemented in Greece which is about the ‘smokin’est’ country in the world!

  8. Patience2 Avatar

    I think this should be implemented in Greece which is about the ‘smokin’est’ country in the world!

  9. Patience2 Avatar

    I think this should be implemented in Greece which is about the ‘smokin’est’ country in the world!

  10. MeYosemite Avatar

    As in most time, keeping people away from politics is to give them a different hard but harmless problem to chew on. Ban on smoking should keep the conversation going for a while. I doubt the choice of this ban was coincidental.

  11. MeYosemite Avatar

    As in most time, keeping people away from politics is to give them a different hard but harmless problem to chew on. Ban on smoking should keep the conversation going for a while. I doubt the choice of this ban was coincidental.

  12. Do not harm youselves, and do not harm others.  Do not let your own hands be the making of your destruction. Serve Allah subhannawattaalla and not your filthy addictions. Keep your sins hidden,so do not display them openly in public. Be strong brothers and sisters and do not let the food of hell controll you. 

  13. Do not harm youselves, and do not harm others.  Do not let your own hands be the making of your destruction. Serve Allah subhannawattaalla and not your filthy addictions. Keep your sins hidden,so do not display them openly in public. Be strong brothers and sisters and do not let the food of hell controll you. 

  14. Do not harm youselves, and do not harm others.  Do not let your own hands be the making of your destruction. Serve Allah subhannawattaalla and not your filthy addictions. Keep your sins hidden,so do not display them openly in public. Be strong brothers and sisters and do not let the food of hell controll you. 

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