Majority of the cafes still serve tea in plastic cups

Dubai: There is total confusion over the use of plastic cups to serve tea and other hot beverages in Dubai.

A majority of the cafeterias and tea stalls continue to serve tea in thin plastic cups despite a ban imposed by the Dubai Municipality with effect from May 4.

During a survey conducted by Gulf News, many cafeteria owners showed ignorance about any notice from the municipality barring them from using plastic cups while some others said that they did receive the notice but did not know what cups should be used.

Improper labelling

The Municipality banned the use of plastic cups made of rigid polystyrene last month. However, the official said the plastic cups can still be used provided they can withstand temperature of 100 degrees Celsius.

According to the civic body official, cafeterias can also serve hot beverages in cups made of foam polystyrene and paper cups suitable for serving hot drinks.

"We don't know which plastic cups should be used because there is no labelling on them. We don't know which plastic cups available in the market can withstand 100 degrees Celsius temperature," said a cafeteria owner in Bur Dubai.

A source in the plastic manufacturing industry called the municipality's decision a hasty one. "They should have first asked the manufacturers to have proper labelling on plastic cups and other packaging material before taking such a decision," he said.

Meanwhile, food safety inspectors at the municipality have already started inspection at cafeterias but initially are educating them about the issue. "The decision will be implemented gradually," said a municipality spokesperson.

Meanwhile, cafeterias have started charging different rates for a cup of tea, which used to cost 50 fils all over Dubai and even other emirates. Now, prices vary from 50 fils to Dh1 in Dubai while in other emirates, it is still being sold for 50 fils.

"I can give you tea in a plastic cup for 50 fils but if you want tea in foam cup, it will cost you Dh1," a cafeteria salesman told Gulf News.

"We have already started serving tea in ceramic and glass cups and we have stopped parcel service," said Abdul Rab at a Deira cafeteria.

"I can't sell tea in a foam or paper cup for 50 fils because they are expensive," said Mustafa at a tea stall in Al Qusais. He said that a carton of thin plastic cups cost from Dh 18 to Dh25 but a carton of a foam or paper cup cost from Dh55 to Dh68. "We are just surviving with a profit margin of a few fils on a cup of tea. It will be impossible for us to sell tea at the same price using expensive cups," he said.