Plastic cup ban takes effect from today

Dubai: The ban on the use of plastic cups to serve tea and hot beverages will come into effect from today. However, a number of cafeterias surveyed by Gulf News said they had not received any notice.

Sultan Al Taher, head of Food Inspection Unit, said the municipality inspectors would launch a massive inspection campaign from Saturday to ensure that tea is not served in plastic cups.

Last month the municipality banned use of plastic cups made of rigid polystyrene to serve tea, coffee and other hot drinks. A month's grace period given by the civic body expires today.

Al Taher said an official notice to stop using plastic cups had been served to cafeterias and restaurants.

According to the Gulf News survey, some cafeterias said they did receive a notice and had already stopped using plastic cups.

Chaudhry Abdul Hameed, owner of Ravi Restaurant in Satwa, said he received the notice early this week and had stopped using plastic cups to serve hot beverages.

But some like Maidu, owner of a popular tea stall in Deira, said: "We are still using plastic cups." He also showed ignorance about any official note. "We will stop using plastic cups only after we receive official note. But it will force us to increase the price of a cup of tea from 50 fils to at least Dh1 because foam or paper cups are expensive," he said.

Al Taher said the municipality inspectors would start visiting cafeterias and restaurants from Saturday and warn them to stop using banned plastic cups.

"The decision will be implemented gradually. First, we will warn them and if they don't listen, fines will follow," he said. An official at the Food Safety Section said cafeterias and restaurants can use cups made of foam polystyrene and paper instead.

Cafes hike prices of hot beverages

A number of cafeterias have increased the price of a cup of tea from 50 fils to 75 fils while some are selling it for Dh1, following the municipality orders banning the use of cheap plastic cups.

"It will be impossible for us to serve tea for just 50 fils using cups made of foam polystyrene or paper cups because they are expensive," said Maidu, owner of a cafeteria in Deira.

He said prices of even plastic cups, tea, sugar and gas cylinders have already gone up and it is now difficult to sell a cup of tea for 50 fils. Roadside cafeterias in Dubai have been selling a cup of tea for 50 fils for the last 27 years.