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Selling tobacco to under 18 is a violation by UAE law

Dubai - Those flouting rules can be fined between Dh500 to Dh10,000.

Selling any tobacco product to anyone below 18 years is a violation of the Federal Anti-Tobacco Law, according to a senior official from the UAE's Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHP).
Those flouting rules can be fined between Dh500 to Dh10,000.
Dr Hussain Al Rand, Assistant Under-Secretary for Health Centres and Clinics at the ministry, told Khaleej Times that the seller has to ask for proof of age. "According to the bylaw, young people will not be able to purchase any tobacco products, as sale of these to any person under 18 is a violation," he said.
"Similarly, shisha products may not be provided to persons under the age of 18," he added.
However, implementation of the law remains lax. In an earlier interview, Dr Wedad Al Maidoor, head of the National Tobacco Control Committee, said: "We still need a lot of regulations and their implementations."
Dr Hussain said that since the UAE ratified FCTC in 2005, the ministry has controlled activities regarding tobacco to protect the younger generation.
The law and bylaw protects children in many articles such as: Smoking is forbidden in the private car if there is a child below 12 years; smokers should maintain a minimum distance of 150 metres from kindergartens, schools, universities and colleges; smoke-free school initiative that has three pillars; student/teacher/parent that raise awareness about smoking hazards and quitting; demonstrating good examples for non-smokers as role models and encouraging children to live a healthy life style though raising awareness about importance of exercising, eating healthy food and using any spare time in something beneficial.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com