Sharjah: Sharjah is studying a law to ban the sale of tobacco at groceries in areas where schools are located, a municipality official said Wednesday.
Nada Al Suwaidi, Director of the Government Communications Department at Sharjah Municipality, said the law will soon be issued to ban the sale of cigarettes at groceries close to schools.
The move comes in response to complaints by school administrations about the spread of tobacco products near school premises. Nada pointed out that health inspectors will carry out inspection campaigns to ensure that schools abide by the rules.
Under the current law, the sale of cigarettes and naswar (a type of dipping tobacco, made from fresh tobacco leaves, calcium oxide and wood ash) products to minors under the age of 21 is banned. However, parents have noted that grocery shops do not adhere to the law and are keen to sell tobacco products in order to make a quick profit.
Parents expressed their optimism that such a move will certainly prevent them worrying about their children taking up the bad habit of smoking at an early age if their exposure to such health hazards is reduced.
"My son spends most of his time at school and we hardly see each other. I trust him completely and cannot imagine him smoking, but I know how children can be. I would feel better if cigarettes were not sold near schools because then his classmates would not be tempted to buy them and pressure their friends to try smoking," said Umm Ebrahim, a mother of a 14-year-old pupil who studies at a government school.
Public support
In the meantime, Sharjah Municipality has urged all members of the public to cooperate and notify the authority about any offences by grocery shops.
"It is difficult to prove that vendors are selling tobacco products to minors, especially if they are being sold in homes or inside groceries. It is important for the public to cooperate with us so that we can put an end to such harmful influences that are affecting children and young adults in our communities," said Nada.
She added that the municipality can assure those who provide such information complete anonymity, if so requested by the individual.
Vandana Marwaha, Principal of Delhi Private School, applauded the initiative as a move that will deter pupils from smoking.
"Once the sale of cigarettes is banned near schools, it will certainly be a good move because it will make a big difference in the community. But we also have to consider teachers who smoke because they are also role models for pupils and they should be prevented from smoking near schools as well," she pointed out.
"It is no good enough to talk about banning the sale of cigarettes but to take action. Thankfully, we have never had any reports about our pupils smoking on the school premises, but that does not mean that other schools do not face that problem," said Marwaha.
"Children should not be exposed to such things and, if they see cigarettes, they might get tempted to try them. Pupils spend nearly all of their time at school and my teenage son often buys snacks from a nearby grocery shop. If the cigarettes are not on display then [the pupils] would not think about buying tobacco, and that will certainly stop many from smoking," said Yasser Ramadan.
Helpline
The public can report complaints of vendors selling tobacco products to minors (below 21 years old) on the Sharjah Municipality hotline 993.
