As Jeddah starts applying a smoking ban in cafes, restaurants and public places, perhaps the biggest problem is not coming from those complaining that they cannot smoke but establishment owners who say the ban will drive them to bankruptcy. Some say the ban will result in lost revenues as their smoking patrons will cut short their stay or seek other venues where smoking is unrestricted. Others feel the decision about smoking in their establishments is a decision that is best left up to them rather than one that requires intervention from the outside. And there are those who claim they would not have invested in the sector had they known a ban was coming. The tobacco industry worldwide has fueled this debate with its claims that smoke-free air policies will result in declining restaurant, cafe, and other hospitality industry revenues, lost jobs in the hospitality sector, and businesses closing. But comprehensive research on the economic impact of smoke-free air policies consistently concludes that these policies do not have a negative economic impact. If anything, many studies suggest that there may be some positive effects on local businesses. Such laws may reduce health care costs, improve work productivity, reduce risk of fire, increase cleanliness where food is made, and potentially reduce energy use via decreased ventilation needs. Clean indoor air laws creating completely smoke-free environments protect non-smokers from exposure to secondhand smoke, contribute to a reduction in overall cigarette consumption, and protect hospitality workers from adverse respiratory conditions. Best of all, the regulations are well accepted by the general public, at least in many part of the US and Europe. Thousands of people there do go to restaurants, eat good food, enjoy the sights and conversation, have a nice time, and do not smoke. Of course, there are people who obey the No Smoking sign but do so grudgingly. Not much in this regard can be said except for the fact that while hardly a single airline anymore allows smoking, smokers continue to fly. Because the evidence on the health consequences of exposure to tobacco smoke is indisputable, Saudi citizens should not act as if they are living in the 1950s when smoking was not considered dangerous. It has been decades since doctors discovered the connection between smoking and the increased risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema and other illnesses. When so many countries are banning smoking in public, it is amazing that in many other countries one can still light up not just in a hospital but in a heart clinic. The Kingdom must not be one of those countries. It is likely that clean air laws will continue to spread around the globe, where smoke-free environments will be the norm and smoking in public areas will be the exception. Increased business, not less, could come from smoke-free public places. The smoking ban could also help shift social norms away from the acceptance of smoking in everyday life while giving smokers an incentive to quit. That is perhaps the ban's biggest plus - change in favor of a healthier lifestyle.
