First Restaurant Fined in Tyre over Violation of Smoking Ban
A restaurant in the southern city of Tyre was fined for violating the anti-tobacco law, the first such move since the regulation came into force on Monday, Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) reported.
VDL said Wednesday that a Ministry of Economy staff member fined the SUNSET restaurant that lies on the southern corniche on Tuesday night after he saw several customers smoking water pipes indoor.
The owner, Mohammed Ismail, criticized the law in remarks to VDL, saying it would lead to the closure of a lot of restaurants and to bankruptcy.
But Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Tuesday that the government is committed to the implementation of the smoking ban.
He said after meeting with a delegation from the restaurant owners syndicate: “Those protesting the ban should have presented alternatives before the law was approved by parliament” last year.
Tobacco control Law 174 that went into effect Monday prompted several restaurants and cafes to shut down in protest.
Demonstrators also held a sit-in in the town of Antelias north of Beirut where restaurants, cafes and bars have mushroomed, demanding amendments to the law.
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