JEDDAH — The Saudi Press Agency announced in July of this year a new policy initiated by the Interior Ministry that banned smoking of cigarettes and hookahs in all government ministries and offices, malls and restaurants. Saudi citizens have reacted differently to the ministry's decision to ban smoking in Jeddah. Some people see the ban as a way of protecting the health and rights of non-smokers while others think it impedes on smokers' individual rights. Statistics show that six million Saudis spend around SR30 million a day on cigarettes and as a result, the government has begun to impose laws and policies to encourage people to kick the habit. In the first few months of 2012, taxes on cigarettes increased by one Saudi riyal. This increase, although not as high as taxes that are imposed in developed countries, may help reduce the number of smokers in the country. The General Secretary of the Anti-smoking Society said in a recent interview that was published in Al-Yaum daily that through careful studies and research, an increase in the price of cigarettes could help consumers quit smoking, prevent others from picking up the habit and encourage people that are trying to quit smoking to do so. He added that underage citizens are most likely to quit when prices increase. Ali Mohammed, a Saudi smoker, agrees with the government's anti-smoking policies as he feels they ultimately benefit him. “I like and agree with the new policy. This policy does not negatively affect individual rights or limits freedom because of two reasons. “First, implementing this policy will benefit smokers since they will have a better chance at improving their health by quitting. I wish I could quit one day, so this policy may help me. Secondly, streets and public places are for all citizens. Allowing smoking in these places will harm non-smokers, so smokers are attacking other peoples' freedom and rights.” Dina Saleh, an expatriate ex-smoker, also agrees with the government's anti-smoking policy and thinks it supports non-smokers' rights. “I agree with the law 100 percent. Let smokers believe this is as an encroachment on their individual rights. I perceive it as a protection for non-smokers' rights, who include children and people with allergies.” Many smokers said the new policy limited their person freedom. Ratana Mohammed, a mother who smokes, was one such person. “I think it is unfair to ban smoking and Hookah in cafes, especially since there is a lack of entertainment for adults in the Kingdom. This limits the freedom of smokers because cafes are the only place for them to socialize. “In restaurants, it is acceptable to ban smoking because it is a place where you go just to eat, and I personally get annoyed when I find someone smoking in front of my kids. Yet, there should be closed rooms in restaurants and public areas for smokers.” According to the World Health Organization (WHO), numerous studies have shown that tobacco taxes are the most effective method for decreasing the number of youth and low-income smokers. If tobacco taxes increase by 10 percent, tobacco consumption decreases by 4 percent in developed countries, whereas, in underdeveloped and developing countries, the rate of consumption will decline by 8 percent. Yet, only 8 percent of the world's countries have moved to make the rate of taxes three times greater than the retail price of a pack of cigarettes. These countries are serious about combatting smoking and Saudi Arabia is not among them.
