People caught serving and selling tobacco to children could face jail terms ranging from three months to a year, fines of BD500 to BD2,000, or both, under new legislation to be debated by newly-elected MPs later this year.
Under amendments to the 2009 Anti-Smoking Law, if the offence was to be repeated, the outlet involved could be closed for up to two months, in addition to the prison and/or fines punishment.
The move would also see outlets, whether those selling or offering any form of tobacco products, to put up clear signs on the rule changes and potential penalties for customers to see.
Minor smoking offences by outlets would also warrant a fine of BD100 and closure of up to a month.
The current law only stipulates a measure of flat fines and doesn’t stipulate jail terms for violators.
The Cabinet, in a written explanation, acquired by the GDN, has backed move urging the new Parliament to give it the go ahead.
Current MPs approved the move in March this year and under constitutional obligations the government is forced to draft it into proper legislation within six months, while giving its opinion on whether it should be approved or rejected.
“We value the move to toughen up punishments against those serving tobacco to children under the age of 18 as it ensures products that are dangerous to public health are out of reach,” said the government.
“It also falls in line with all international health and anti-smoking conventions and agreements that Bahrain has signed on to reduce the spread of tobacco products in the country.
“Having signs clearly displayed makes everyone aware about age rules and associated punishments for failure to abide with them.”
The Cabinet, however, has urged MPs to reject the second part of the amendments that would ban import, trade and distribution of electronic sheeshas and e-cigarettes in Bahrain.
“Electronic sheeshas and e-cigarettes are not considered as actual smoking as tobacco is not involved in any way or form in their production,” said the government.
“There is a difference between tobacco and tobacco alternatives with the latter being out of ‘smoking’ categorisation in all international definitions and rules.”
Important
The National Anti-Smoking and Tobacco Committee has also urged MPs to reconsider their stand on the ban, saying that it contradicts international conventions and are important tools to help people stub out the habit.
“Sale of electronic sheeshas and e-cigarettes is already regulated by a ministerial decision issued by Industry and Commerce Minister Zayed Alzayani,” the committee said in writing.
“The equipment and material used don’t constitute smoking or tobacco under international conventions.
“Punishments for smoking violations are out of our jurisdiction and we are more focused on combating the habit.”
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said only limited violations of smoking rules have been recorded in Bahrain. “In 2018, we dealt with four violations, and one each in 2019 and 2020,” the ministry said. “With regard to sale of cigarettes to those under 18, we saw nine violations in 2018, 15 in 2019 and two in 2020.
“Electronic sheeshas and cigarettes are not classified under smoking and thus do not come under us directly.”
The Industry and Commerce Ministry declined to comment on the proposed ban.
The Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry said it was more concerned about the locations used for sale and distribution of e-cigarettes.
The Bahrain Anti-Smoking Society, however, has backed the tough new stand on the sale of tobacco products to children and the move to tackle the sale of e-cigarettes.
“Smoking kills seven million people worldwide every year, and one million non-smokers too lose their lives under the impact,” the society said.
“According to a 2018 survey conducted in Bahrain, which involved 346 participants, 8.3 per cent smoked cigarettes while 66.2pc used sheesha.
“There are clear violations as smoking is encouraged on social media. Electronic sheeshas and cigarettes are a source of many cardiac and respiratory illnesses and should be banned too.”
MPs last year rejected plans to open a multi-million dinar tobacco manufacturing plant in Bahrain, despite the chance to provide hundreds of new jobs, besides rejecting plans for tobacco cultivation.
Should the plans for manufacturing and remanufacturing tobacco products have been approved a $200m to $300m factory, with a 400-strong workforce, would have started operations.
The packaging factory was one of the biggest investment projects, amongst several others, waiting for the green light.
MPs and the government have been at loggerheads over the suggested factory and cultivation legislation for around 19 months.
In December 2019, Parliament asked for a study on the pros and cons of allowing tobacco cultivation in the country.
However, the GDN reported in July last year that the services committee was not impressed with the findings, insisting on full details of the proposals, such as the location and size of plantation fields, and potential production capacity.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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