JEDDAH: A total of 16 smokers were caught and fined SR200 each at King Abdul Aziz International Airport (KAIA) within the first few hours of a nationwide ban coming into force at the Kingdom's airports. The errant smokers were nabbed by security officials Sunday. The ban came into force at midnight. Eng. Abdullah Rahimi, Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), said the ban and enforcement was simply following standards at international airports worldwide. ”Smoking is a bad habit. Therefore we insisted on implementing the SR200 smoking fine. KAIA is proud to be the first airport in the Kingdom to implement the smoking fine,” said Rahimi. When a person is caught at the airport smoking, the security officials will approach the person and ask him or her to fill in the necessary forms to acknowledge guilt and agreement to pay the SR200 fine. A fine is printed in Arabic and English and a guilty smoker has to fill in his or her name, identity or Iqama number, nationality, violation date and profession. The person is then told to go to the airport police to register the fine in the system of civil violations run by the Ministry of Interior. If an employee of the airport is caught smoking, the authorities can confiscate the worker's work card. The worker then has to pay the SR200 fine and fill out a written pledge not to repeat the behavior. The work card is then returned. If the worker, however, repeats the behavior then the work card will be confiscated permanently. Khaled Al-Dakheel, spokesman of GACA, said announcements in Arabic and English are made about the no-smoking policy at all airports. ”There are only three smoking rooms at the airport and we are working to close them gradually and to stop selling cigarettes at the duty-free section of the KAIA,” he said. The Jeddah Anti-Smoking Society conducted an awareness program Sunday at the domestic terminal, highlighting the dangers of cigarettes and tobacco products. Zeyad Sayaad, a Syrian passenger, attended the awareness program. “I was shocked when I saw the difference between a smoker and non-smoker's lungs. The smoker's lungs were totally black and full of nicotine.” He said it was good to know this information and welcomed the ban at the airport. Another expatriate was also happy with the no-smoking policy. “After I saw a smoker's lungs, I realized that it is a bad habit and every smoker must stop. It is excellent to have fines at the airport because smoking is very bad behavior,” said Ameer Al-Islam, a Bangladeshi service worker at KAIA. Although GACA announced the ban and fines three months ago, one person was caught by surprise. Abdul Kader Ahmed, a Yemeni passenger at KAIA, said he only learnt about the ban when he saw officials and media at the airport. He said the ban was sending a positive message to the youth. In a press release issued Sunday, Engineer Mazen Khashoggi, Director General of KAIA, said the ban covers all passengers, airport visitors, employees, staff and anyone on the premises. “We will not be lax on this matter and any offender will be fined regardless,” he said. “We look forward to seeing the smoking ban implemented to ensure all our airports have a healthy environment that appeal to all especially the elderly and children. Airport personnel, employees, staff and all entities that deal with the airport will be the first to ensure they abide by the ban and work for the safety and wellbeing of others; ensuring that we at all times present a civilized image that positively reflects our services for our guests.” The areas covered by the ban include all cafeterias and restaurants, restrooms, gates, waiting lounges, and offices. Fines will be imposed not only on the passengers but airport personnel, including the airlines at the airports and their staff, retailers, construction teams, security teams, investors in the commercial entities and those who are responsible for, said Khashoggi. He said the officers responsible for the ban include the airport security, General Investigation Department, Passport Control, and Airport Police and Customs. To ensure the ban is effectively launched a series of training sessions are under way with the security teams and key departments dealing with the public, he added. All fines collected will be deposited in a special account for the Anti-Smoking Project at the Ministry of Health to support the awareness programs being implemented. Research shows that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranks fourth globally in terms of cigarette consumption, he said.
