Celebrities to endorse smoking ban

Dubai: Dubai Municipality will hire the services of some celebrities, including film stars, singers and artists to kick start its campaign on smoking ban in public places starting May 31.

“We are also singing a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) to get cooperation from various public sector departments to ensure strict implementation of ban on smoking,'' said a spokesperson of the Dubai Municipality.

The Municipality will sign MoUs with the Department of Health and Medical Services, Dubai Police, Roads and Transport Authority, Department of Economic Development and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

The spokesperson said that the municipality's special committee, formed to implement the smoking ban, has also sent requests to some top celebrities to join the campaign. “We cannot reveal names of the celebrities because we are still waiting for the response from them,'' the spokesperson said.

“The idea to involve celebrities to make enforcement interesting to encourage people quit smoking or at least refrain from smoking at public places,'' he said.

Meanwhile, the municipality has chalked out plans to regulate smoking in public places, coinciding with the World No Tobacco Day, falling on May 31. The details of the plans will be announced on Thursday.

The move follows decision by the Dubai Executive Council decided to issue a law regulating smoking in public places, which will ultimately enforce a ban on smoking in places like shopping malls and food establishments.

Earlier, Hussein Lootah, Acting Director General of the Dubai Municipality said the decision also comes in line with both the Dubai Strategic Plan (2007-2015), which seeks to protect public health and improve quality of life for UAE nationals and expatriates residing in Dubai and the Strategic Plan of Dubai Municipality which provides for ensuring purity of interior air quality and prevention of smoking in public buildings.

According to the Dubai Municipality's plans, the smoking ban in Dubai will have three categories. All persons below the age of 21 will be barred from going to smoking zones. There will be a blanket ban on smoking in some places such as schools, educational establishments, hair-cutting saloons, health clubs, Internet cafes, food courts and offices.

There will be designated smoking lounges or corners that meet all prevailing health prerequisites such as ventilation, smoke-absorbers in cafes, restaurants and shopping malls.

Timetable to a smoke-free Dubai

- From September 15, smoking will be regulated in shopping malls and amusement centres.

- From 15 November, smoking will be regulated in all food establishments including restaurants, and cafes, and other establishments including beauty saloons, hotels and cinemas.

- From 2008, fines will be imposed on violators according to the Local Order No.11 of 2003 pertaining to protecting the public health and environment.