Nahhas Meets with Restaurant Owners, Says Cabinet Could Consider Amending Smoking Ban
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Trade and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas stressed on Tuesday that the government is committed to the implementation of smoking ban but would consider amending it to support the restaurants sector and decrease their losses.
“We have to implement this ban but we can amend certain articles in it or issue executive in favor of the restaurants sector,” Nahhas said following talks with a delegation from the restaurant owners syndicate.
The delegation urged Nahhas to facilitate the affairs of their sector to enable employees to maintain their jobs.
“We will go on with our work despite the many challenges we're facing,” Paul Ariss, head of the restaurant owners syndicate said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Miqati headed a meeting for a ministerial committee tasked with studying the smoking ban.
Nahhas noted after the meeting that the committee has studied the possibility of implementing the law in a balanced manner across Lebanon.
He told reporters that an amendment might be introduced to create a hall for smokers in Hotels.
The committee includes of Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, and Minister Nahhas.
The ban came into effect in September in accordance to Law 174, which passed a year ago.
A minimum LL135,000 ($90) fine for non-compliance with the new smoke-free regulations will be applied to both the owners and the smokers themselves.
The National Tobacco Control Program of the Health Ministry says more than 3,500 Lebanese die each year from tobacco-related diseases.
08 January 2013, 13:21
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I always wanted to go to a restaurant to smell cigarette smoke. Who goes for the food.
08 January 2013, 14:28
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sadly not all restaurants are abiding by the law you could see people smoking in many pubs and clubs
08 January 2013, 16:27
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one could have restaurant that allows smoking or not allowing smoker. let owners decide freely and people will than decide where they go.
08 January 2013, 17:33
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Here's the problem with this ban:
Ciggs cost 1000 to 3000ll (66c to $2) a pack!
There are no education, awareness campaigns by the gov.
The law was passed with no study of the viability of implementing this law, and it's impact on the economy.
In the west, they banned smoking in steps. Starting with raising the prices, and making sure kids can't easily buy them. It took years before they passed a law this extreme, it doesn't even allow smoking sections. Our economy runs on cafe's n pubs... N money laundering but that's a dif story :p
Cont..
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08 January 2013, 17:33
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The law is badly written and very unclear. In the end it gives the shortit siya7a the power to decide what is considered to be "indoors" or "outdoors". I'm speaking from personal experience, if u don't "convince" the siya7a to OK your smoking section you will go broke! Lebanese ppl want to smoke while drinking, we're not ready for this law yet. It needs to be studied and implemented in a manner beneficial to public health and economy at the same time.
