Restaurants and cafes not ready for smoking ban

Dubai: Restaurants and cafes are unprepared for the smoking ban effective from Sunday under the emirate's anti-smoking regulations, with some proprietors admitting being clueless about the ban.

This marks the second phase of Dubai's new smoking regulations on public places, after making shopping malls smoke-free zones on September 16. Eateries that wish to have a smoking section have to fulfil requirements designed to limit smoke exposure to other customers.

An informal survey by Gulf News found many restaurants and cafes in Dubai were unsure how their eateries would implement the regulations.

A manager at French Connection Cafe on Shaikh Zayed Road told Gulf News she did not know whether the cafe would continue to have a smoking section.

"I don't know if smoking will continue. We have not done any work on the cafe," she said, adding cafe management was meeting to decide on the issue.

Effect on business

James Lagasca, assistant operations manager of Lemongrass Thai Restaurant in Oud Metha, was unaware the regulations come into effect today.

"We didn't put in any specifications. Right now, there are no barriers separating our smoking customers from others," he said.

"The ban will affect business because 30 to 40 per cent of our customers smoke. For our profit margins and revenues, the ban won't be so good. But for health, it is very beneficial," he added. He said the restaurant would decide whether to spend money and implement changes for a smoking section after being a smoke-free restaurant for a month.

Non-smoking restaurants were not bothered by the regulations. Chandrasekaran, owner of Madurai Appu Restaurant in Karama, told Gulf News it was business as usual.

"We have been non-smoking from the very beginning. We have many families coming in and they don't like to be in smoking places," he said.

Grace period: New rules for shisha

The smoking ban on restaurants and cafes do not affect shisha cafes, which have different and more stringent requirements to fulfil.

Salem Mesmar, head of public health at Dubai Municipality, previously told Gulf News shisha cafes had a one-year grace period to put in the changes.

"Shisha cafes have new rules. They cannot continue with what they are doing. For example, they cannot stay open till early in the morning," he said.

"They also can't make noise problems, cannot put out outdoor decorations," he added.

He also said shisha cafes could no longer allow anyone aged under 20 into their premises.

The ban on smoking in public should be implemented as soon as possible. It is really stressful and irritating when you come across smokers while shopping.
Sarah
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 18, 2007, 08:43

A total ban on shisha smoking would eventually prove very beneficial to everyone. We just have to get used to the idea, which has already been implemented in many Western countries.
Jamal
Dubai,UAE
Posted: November 18, 2007, 07:55

Our family regularly eats out, especially at a restaurant in Qusais. The arrangement there is such that smoking is in the main hall and the sides are partitioned as family rooms. But all smoke from the main hall spreads throughout the restaurant. So this smoking ban will definitely help many families and improve people's health.
Usha
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 18, 2007, 07:43

They should not only ban people under 20 years old from smoking shisha, but shisha smoking should be banned for everyone. This will have positive effects: Clean air and parking problem solved since shisha smokers tend to occupy parking space for up to five hours.
Nazar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: November 18, 2007, 07:23

Now that smoking in Dubai malls is banned, food courts in Sharjah malls are filled with smokers. I used to frequent those food courts with my family before the ban was imposed in Dubai but now the atmosphere is inhospitable.
Sankar
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: November 18, 2007, 06:38

I can appreciate the concerns for "loss of customers" but guess what? You will attract a whole new customer base that used to avoid your business because of the smoking.
Martin
Halifax,Canada
Posted: November 18, 2007, 04:02