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Two hoots to ban on cigarette sale to kids

As per the survey, 70 per cent of the students had seen someone using tobacco on television, videos or movies.

Dubai — At least 50.7 per cent of schoolchildren, who are currently smokers, were not prevented from buying cigarettes because of their age during the past year, according to the latest figures from the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) done in the UAE in 2013.

The survey showed that current smokers, who bought cigarettes from a store, shop, petrol station, cafeteria, or supermarket, stood at 47.4 per cent of which 51.6 per cent were boys and 31.6 per cent girls.

However, preliminary results from the survey obtained by Khaleej Times showed that smoking among schoolchildren had dropped from 20 per cent smokers in 2002 to 16 per cent in 2013.

Though the federal anti-tobacco law prevents sale of tobacco products to youngsters below the age of 18, the display and sale are not regulated, a senior Ministry of Health official said on Wednesday.

“Groceries and supermarkets should not be displaying cigarettes as per the law since this is a form of advertisement,” said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the ministry. “They should keep cigarettes away from sight in a cabinet so that people do not ask for them but this is not the case in all places,” she said.

“These sales are not regulated because in some emirates, checks fall under the purview of municipalities while in other cases, it is the Ministry of Economy,” she explained.

“While drafting the law, we kept it flexible for each emirate…but the implementation is still lax,” she added.

At least 25 per cent of students were exposed to smoke at home while 45.7 per cent faced exposure to tobacco smoke inside an enclosed public place. Exposure to tobacco smoke at any outdoor public place was faced by 48.2 per cent.

The results also showed that the number of students who have ever tried tobacco (in any form) was 29.7 per cent of whom 35.8 per cent were boys and 23.5 per cent girls.

The number of first-time cigarette smokers was 23.5 per cent of whom 29.6 per cent were boys and 17.3 per cent girls.

Current users of smokeless tobacco were 3.4 per cent while 7.4 per cent tried smokeless tobacco for the first time.

As per the survey, 70 per cent of the students had seen someone using tobacco on television, videos or movies.

The survey also showed a shift in students’ perceptions with 57.4 per cent thought other people’s tobacco smoking was harmful to them. Over 80 per cent of the students favoured banning smoking inside enclosed public places while 71 per cent favoured a ban on smoking at outdoor public places.

A total of 4,259 students aged between 8 and 15 years completed the survey, of whom 3,376 were aged 13-15 years. The survey was conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education last year.

The survey was done in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and US Centres for Disease Control (CDC).asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Official discuss stricter law enforcement

Authorities met on Wednesday to discuss ways to enforce strict implementation of the bylaws of the Federal Anti-Tobacco Law.

“We are learning from each other’s experience on how each entity is working to enforce the law,” said Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee at the Health Ministry.

“The Dubai Municipality has already started enforcing the ban on shisha in hotels and cafes while the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (Esma) has enforced regulations on tobacco packets, including pictorial warnings,” she said.

“We still need a lot of regulations and their implementations… We are working towards that,” she added.

Survey results

50.7% schoolchildren not prevented from buying cigarettes because of their age during the past year

47.4% current student smokers obtained cigarettes by buying them from a store, shop, petrol pump, cafeteria or supermarket

25% students were exposed to smoke at home

45.7% faced exposure to tobacco smoke inside enclosed public places

48.2% were exposed to tobacco smoke at outdoor public place

29.7% students tried tobacco in any one form or the other

23.5% the number of first-ever cigarette smokers in 2013

80% students favoured a smoking ban inside enclosed public places

71% favoured a ban on smoking in outdoor public places

Survey results

• 50.7% schoolchildren not prevented from buying cigarettes because of their age during the past year
• 47.4% current student smokers obtained cigarettes by buying them from a store, shop, petrol pump, cafeteria or supermarket
• 25% students were exposed to smoke at home
• 45.7% faced exposure to tobacco smoke inside enclosed public places
• 48.2% were exposed to tobacco smoke at outdoor public place
• 29.7% students tried tobacco in any one form or the other
• 23.5% the number of first-ever cigarette smokers in 2013
• 80% students favoured a smoking ban inside enclosed public places
• 71% favoured a ban on smoking in outdoor public places