Dubai Municipality launches Tobacco-Free Youth initiative

The initiative forms part of a set of measures to be taken by the civic body to mark the World No Tobacco Day which falls on May 31.

Salem Mesmar, Assistant Director General of Dubai Municipality for Health, Safety and Environment Control Sector, said the initiative is taken up by the Municipality in line with the Strategic Plan for the Emirate of Dubai 2007-2015 that has set such noble objectives as "preserving public health and improving quality of life."

The initiative also comes as a continuation of the municipality's efforts aimed at rooting out dangers of smoking in public places.

He urged the public - individuals and establishments - to cooperate with the Municipality to make this initiative a successful one thereby contributing towards bringing up a tobacco-free generation.

"Statistics show that three out of 10 people in the UAE smoke. There is an even greater danger from the passive or second-hand smoking.

Of the 4,000 individual compounds identified in tobacco and tobacco smoke, about 60 have been identified as carcinogens, tumor initiators, and tumor promoters. Moreover, the victims of second-hand smoke, especially children, are prone to many respiratory diseases," he said.

He explained that the link between secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke) and diseases is well known, and the connection to cardiovascular-related disability and death is also clear.

In the United States alone, about 22,700 to 69,600 premature deaths from heart and blood vessel disease are caused by other people's smoke each year.

Dubai Municipality began last year a smoking regulation programme in public places last year starting with shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, and cinemas.

These public facilities were instructed designate special areas for smokers. The initiative has won applause from all quarters and it has been successfully implemented in most public arenas across the city, he said.

A smoking regulation guide has also been issued by the Municipality to help shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, cafes and other public facilities in the city to effectively regulate smoking in public places.

The guide clearly defines areas where smoking is prohibited, where it is permitted, and lays down conditions for designated areas for smoking, licensing requirements, health and safety regulations. The guide also lists types of violations and the proposed fines for them.