The decision to ban shisha smoking in Ramadan tents during iftar, and allowing its use only after 9pm, is a welcome stance taken by the Dubai Municipality.
The predominant issue with allowing this practice during iftar goes in the face of the logic the authorities desire to uphold — that being family time, iftar is not an opportune period to have the effects of passive smoking affect people, including women and children.
For non-smokers, the tobacco smoke that hangs in the air is like an unwelcome fog that gets in the way of their iftar experience. It is important that they also be able to dine in an atmosphere that is comfortable for them and their families.
As the Dubai Municipality has reiterated, many tents expressly put up for the month of Ramadan do not have adequate ventilation to ensure a clean, and fresh, environment within.
This is not only a health concern, it is also a safety issue. Shishas within enclosed environments could be fire hazards and as such, to ensure public safety, the mandate by the authorities to acquire the permission of the Civil Defence before putting up a Ramadan tent serves a good purpose. It is important for public facilities to be fully compliant with all aspects of safety regulations.
Of course, it is another matter that shisha smoking in itself is a health hazard, irrespective of when and where you smoke it. There is a mountain of evidence regarding the ill-effects of tobacco usage as there is impeccable scientific backing for the benefits of non-smoking.
But that’s an argument for another day. In the context of Ramadan tents, the current injunctions passed by the municipality are fully in the interest of public welfare.
