Laura Bashraheel Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Despite the Interior Ministry's decision to ban smoking in Jeddah, businessmen and smokers believe the decision is bad for them and will negatively affect businesses. The businessmen called for a three-year grace period to fully implement the decision and find ways to overcome expected losses. They also need time to expand outdoor areas, which according to them are not covered by the ban. The Jeddah municipality has started applying the smoking ban in cafes, restaurants and public places, with inspectors enforcing the ban. Inspectors are visiting cafes checking for violations while giving a Saturday deadline for the directive to be fully implemented. The municipality can fine flouters of the ban up to SR5,000 and even close down their businesses after repeat offenses as per powers given to them by the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, ordered the public ban on smoking to be implemented in July but the municipality only started taking action a couple of weeks ago. Fadi Baidoon, a supervisor at Balsameco café in Tahliah Street who spoke to Saudi Gazette last week about the smoking ban, said a municipality inspector visited the café two days ago and gave them until Friday to fully implement the ban. The inspector also gave the café a copy of the Interior Ministry statement regarding the ban. He added: “We stopped serving shisha pipes inside but we have a patio section where we are still serving and allowing smoking until Friday.” Baidoon thinks the municipality is focusing on residential areas more. He said: “We have another branch in Malik Road but they haven't visited them yet.” Baidoon added people have already stopped coming to the café after they heard of the smoking ban. He said: “I know other cafes are affected and with time they might just shut down.” Another café inside a shopping center, also in Tahliah Street, has stopped serving shisha and banned smoking since Saturday. However, some other cafes still serve shisha, according to customers who went there recently. Maha Ghanem said she went to a café in Tahliah Street two days ago and they were serving shisha. She added: “I asked the manager about the smoking ban and he said they were not visited by any inspectors, plus people in Jeddah will resist the ban. Smoking is part of Jeddah's identity.” It appears municipality inspectors are carrying out random inspections around cafes in Jeddah and it is not clear yet whether outdoor areas will be exempt from the ban. On Monday, a conference was held at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in which businessmen discussed the likely losses that would result from the smoking ban. More than 35 businessmen who have invested in restaurants and cafes demanded the chamber to look after their interests and claimed the municipality was not implementing the decision properly. According to a report, the losses could reach up to SR3 billion.
