TOUGH regulations to grant commercial registrations (CRs) for new sheesha cafés in Bahrain could be introduced if a parliamentary proposal is given the go-ahead.
Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Minister Essam Khalaf in 2018 overturned a 2006 ministerial order imposing restrictions on sheesha café locations and timings.
The previous rule stipulated a distance of 200 metres between a sheesha café and any home, school, educational institution, government building, embassy or consulate, mosque or any security, emergency or religious facility.
Cafés were also obliged to close at midnight on weekdays and 1am during weekends.
Mr Al Ansari
A proposal by five MPs, led by Parliament services committee chairman Ahmed Al Ansari, to introduce modified rules originally implemented until 2018 has been backed by Bahrain’s three municipal councils and the Capital Trustees Board.
Mr Al Salloom
MP Ahmed Al Salloom, a sheesha café owner and agent for sheesha tobacco brands who has been deputised as a spokesman by other owners, said the sheesha café business has turned into a sheesha “jungle” and is saturated beyond capacity.
A municipal council chairman has heated up the argument against tough regulations demanding immediate closure of all smoking outlets.
There are currently more than 11,000 outlets, including cafés, restaurants and lounges, in Bahrain licensed to serve sheesha.
Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed Alzayani previously told MPs that Bahrain follows an open market policy without restrictions in commercial districts, streets or areas.
He added that previous tough rules had encouraged a black market for sheesha café CRs that has since ended.
“Sheesha cafés have mushroomed in the country since the restrictions were removed three years ago,” said Mr Al Ansari.
“They are now being treated as any other business and allowed to open as laundries, barber shops, restaurants and bakeries through an automated CR approval system.
“The cafés have crawled into nearby residential areas and despite being in commercially-designated areas, streets or zones, the smoke and noise are just metres away from someone’s comfort and peace of mind.
“If the government doesn’t want to reimpose the 2006 rules then at least it should consider a variation that allows those it has now licensed and those to open in future to be businesses that respect those around them.
A sheesha café has opened opposite a secondary girls school in Muharraq and despite calls to shut it down, the ministry has rejected the requests.
Mr Al Salloom, who is also Bahrain Bloc president, said imposing extreme rules on CRs wouldn’t serve the purpose of a free market, but regulations to open new sheesha cafés were necessary.
“We have seen what the open CR policy has created over the past three years and the time has come to impose some regulations that would restore order.
“Not 200 metres, 50 metres for example, distance and the nature of areas should be respected.
“Commercial areas are now mixed within residential areas making the distinction difficult, but that doesn’t mean chaos is accepted and built on.”
Mr Al Kooheji
Northern Municipal Council chairman Ahmed Al Kooheji demanded the closure of all sheesha cafés in Bahrain.
“Smoking is harmful and should be banned completely.
“The government removed restrictions to allow more poison in the community and as an anti-smoking campaigner I want very strict rules imposed if closure is not a possibility.”
Mr Al Tamimi
Southern Municipal Council chairman Bader Al Tamimi said without restrictions, the country has witnessed chaos.
“There are more sheesha cafés or sheesha-licensed outlets than pharmacies in the country.
“They are opposite people’s homes, schools and mosques and the complaints we receive on a daily basis are tiring and bothersome.”
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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