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A smoking ban... in Syria!?
The War on Tobacco has struck the Middle East.The government of Syria has implemented a ban on smoking in public places such as cafes, restaurants, and other buildings where the public gathers. It's the latest in a series of measures to reduce tobacco's role in society.
While not as comprehensive as Finland's anti-smoking laws passed earlier this year, they're surprising for an Arab country, where a large percentage of the adult population smokes. Cafes in Damascus and other Syrian cities and towns are generally hazy with smoke from cigarettes and nargile, traditional water pipes.
But not anymore. The ban has had the same effect in Syria that it has had in other nations--pushing people outside to smoke in the street. Plus the series of laws isn't deterring people from smoking, with Syria Today Magazine reporting that the number of smokers has risen 15 percent. The Syrian Society for Countering Cancer reports that 60 percent of men and 23 percent of women smoke.
If smoking travelers can handle the restrictions, they'll find a fascinating country with hospitable people and many ancient monuments. Cities such as Damascus and Aleppo have traditional old quarters with labyrinthine medieval alleys, countless little shops and cafes, beautiful mosques. . .and grumpy smokers standing in the street.
Gallery: Dunhill Pipe Dinner
Filed under: Syria, News, Middle East
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DUDE Apr 25th 2010 8:30PM
War in Iraq, people starving all over the world, little kids getting gunned down over drugs.... And smoking is the problem? ...."If you can't beat the big guy, Pick on the little guy."
cecejoe Apr 25th 2010 8:52PM
they all need propane tanks with face masks!
DEE Apr 25th 2010 8:59PM
BAN THE H OUT OF ALLLLLLL ALCOHOL, if you are going to ban cigarettes and smokers....ALCOHOL is responsible for more deaths and violence and car accidents that any thing in the whole wide world. BAN ALL ALCOHOL!! or leave smokers alone..period...end of conversation.
Steven Apr 25th 2010 11:35PM
We once did ban alcohol in this country. It was called Prohibition. Prohibition did not work since it may had compelled more people to drink and led to the rise of organized crime.
mark Apr 25th 2010 9:32PM
I just want to say,I really tier of hearing about this smoking ban in public place's.You all yell about people killing each other's in war,drug dealer,drinking and driving is the worse thing,and should worry about thisworld raise those taxes instead of cig.,and leave people that like to smoke alone? I been smoking for all over 30 years now,and I like smoking leave me alone????????There alot people out there dying without food,no jobs,rich are getting richer,,not me,I don't make enough to get by each month,can't even afford to by my medicine I need?And goverment worry stopping drugs coming into th U.S.A.&should legalize it and make tax on the people selling it.Too much fighting going on in this world?
GG Apr 26th 2010 9:34AM
Keep taking those English classes, Mark!
Marcie Apr 25th 2010 10:13PM
Mark...if you can't buy medicine that you need, you shouldn't be smoking. You can't afford it. I am so glad I quit smoking 20 years ago. It has saved me thousands of dollars. I got to a point where I was thinking, why am I paying these tobacco companies all this money to kill me?
susqueh Apr 26th 2010 5:31AM
Marcie, do you drive or ride in a car? More people are treated in hospitals relating to Automobile accients than to Cigarettes. More Children are killed or maimed from auto accidents than from second hand smoke. I live in a rural area; but I can't sit outside on my porch, because the noise and exhaust from the cars that go past my home,keep me from enjoying the sun. But to each his/her own. Smoking is a bad habit, but so is the habit of laziness which one can easily get from using an automobile. But I am NOT saying we should ban automobiles; even if I don't own one. Just becsause I don't like cars doesn't mean that others should get rid of theirs. What has happened toWe the People that we have fallen so far down the path of maturing that we need so many mothers and fathers telling us what to do?
Scottilla Apr 26th 2010 4:47PM
A car will get you from one place to another. What will a cigarette get you?
wunkman Apr 25th 2010 11:22PM
There is an insect killing garden product called Black Flag. The poison it uses to kill bugs is Nicotine. Go ahead smokers; give the kids a little dose of Nicotine. And don't forget to add some tar. Most kids aren't getting enough tar in their diets. It is extremely difficult for nonsmokers to imagine the mentality of smokers, who are only Nicotine drug addicts. Recognize yourselves for what you are! Not "smokers", but "drug addicts" hooked for life, and defending it to the death. You can't imagine how stupid you look to sane people.
a1116571 Apr 26th 2010 12:06AM
You sound stupid to me with what you wrote, and I am a non smoker. Everyone wants to gripe about cigarettes, but there are a lot more things out there doing your precious life harm. The fact is there is air pollution from many sources (like power plants, cars, gasoline, insecticides, grills, etc.) but I don't see you or anyone else willing to find a cheap clean way to have your damn air conditioning, tv, stereo, fireplace, hot tub, etc) I take offense that you waste your time causing a stink over a cigarette while most of the water in this country is contaminated with hormones, steroids, and other meds that aren't filtered out in current water filtration. The sun is known to cancer for more than 50 years now but I don't see you out there trying ban that. Food is contaminated with a variety of harmful things but where are the people demanding that it be stopped. Everyone wants to condemn someone else (human nature, I guess) but no one wants to stand up and take responsibility for their part in this mess.
Shirl Apr 25th 2010 11:56PM
I live in VA. Our (dem) governor's have raised taxes in our state.. but only on tobacco products. So all the smokers are the ones paying the higher taxes.. cigarettes cost about 10% of retail cost.. so for an example... if we pay $50 for a carton of cigarettes, then we are paying $45 tax.. usually per week. So if anyone has the right to smoke where ever they want.. its us.. It may be the time to fight to get the drinkers outside too.. but then, the ahos will want to join all of us smokers and drinkers outside.. BUT, Not until you pay taxes too!! You owe us for taking care of your part of the tax.
Becky Apr 26th 2010 12:53AM
Um, no. The health complications that come from smoking cost taxpayers billions annually. So non-smokers ARE paying for you. Those taxes that you complain about partially are used to fund public health programs. That means that those huge amounts of money that you are complaining about are... just a small portion of the money needed to treat the health problems that you are causing. And on top of that you think that you have the right to force the rest of us to be affected physically by breathing poisonous carcinogens against our will? It's enough that you have the right to give your kids athsma. I wonder... when you kid goes to the emergency room because they can't breathe due to the poisons that you put in their body, will you still be pissed that the ER is partially funded your cigarette taxes? And are you still pissed that I'm trying to keep my kid out of the ER by keeping your cigarettes out of public places?
gage Apr 26th 2010 12:49AM
pathetic!!!!!only morons defend something thats hurting them.you want to actually call their bluff ,speak out for a BAN against the sale of tobacco.its so bad(and it really is in my oppinion) why do they continue to sale it?for the money.its hurting healthcare costs so BAN it?why not oh,you say because people are free to choose,however that doesnt float simply because people arent free to choose to smoke herb or anything(not that im for that either,just making a point).took those freedoms under the guise they are harmful ,why not ban one (or two)that are really a huge harm to society, not only to the users but innocent bystanders, you know the 2 drugs, alcohol and tobacco.because they can make money.of course they try to save face by making it appear they are concerned by the warnings on the packs,health care statistics,telling people to quit ,new drugs to help you quit(more money for them here too),new programs to help you quit(money here too).and guess what since we are so bad for smoking we always get the extra tax(implying if we are gonna do something we shouldnt we should pay more).all a huge scam.they dont want you to quit or they would ban them period.and i dont think its your health or withdrawal they are concerned with either when quitting as some suggest.because they dont seem to let that interfere with banning other highly addicted drugs.so that dont float either.bottom line the smokers in my oppinion are the cash cows.BAN TOBACCO PRODUCTS FOR A HEALTHIER NATION,because you know as they say they dont want you to smoke anyway,lol..wink wink.my oppinion
Alan Apr 26th 2010 12:57AM
Thankfully, the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a smoking ban in public places such as restaurants and bars since December 1, 2009. It passed with a Republican legislature and a Democratic Governor. It was too late to prevent all the problems I've experienced from being around cigarette smoke.
I've had bronchitis and athsma like symptoms ever since middle school. I become extremely ill just by being around tobacco smoke and each time I was I'd develop symptoms that feels like having a case of the flu for two weeks. You tell smokers about it back when it was ok to smoke in public places. They'd say, "oh pity you." Then they would not put the dam* thing out.
The warnings on the side of the cigarette packages are correct. Both of my parents were smokers and both got those conditions listed on the side, I was low birth weight, Mom has heart disease and Dad had emphysema and lung cancer which took his life last year.
watdafuk Apr 26th 2010 9:38AM
Oh pitty you.
reily Apr 26th 2010 11:11AM
If you ban smoking, you should ban McDonald's and a whole slew of junk food peddlers. While you're at it, impose mandatory aerobics classes for citizens, require that they drink 8 classes of water daily, and shut down Coca Cola. And that issue of "public health" may be alleviated by actually providing health care to the public instead of letting the poor souls languish without means to pay for preventative care until their conditions demand emergency attention.
Alan Apr 26th 2010 1:58AM
You're so right Reily! Maybe you should run for office!
I think McDonald's is playing catch up right now. They know people want to eat healthier and that is becoming more available in there restaurants. You can get salads and salad wraps there now with carrots and celery in them. Today I had to get salt covered french fries from McDonalds as my blood pressure had fallen too low to live. However, I really prefer broiled food recommended by the American Heart Association in there cookbook.
It used to be really hard to drink water when I was so used to drinking sodas and coffee. You know once your body becomes used to drinking water you don't want anything except water.
thomas Apr 26th 2010 2:14AM
"The Rule Of Law, is Compliance, no Compliance, no Law" I.P.Daily
Pam Apr 26th 2010 2:37AM
It's crazy that of all things to ban..cigarette smoking..yes they should equally tax liquor..I've known more people killed or damaged for life due to drunk drivers than dying from cigarette smoking..my dad smoked around us..we're all healthy..they''re taxing things that really doesn't have anything to do with the sugar..it's the stupid TV's..computers, video games, xbox. THE COUCH POTATOs you name it..I honestly feel AMerica is becoming communist..America where you can smoke anywhere you want.etc..our rights are being taken away..the g'ment wants to regulate everything they need to kill child abusers/ rapist, murders...that would save a lot of tax payers money.they can't be rehilibated..cahnge the laws..IF YOU KILL, WITH PROOF, YOU WILL DIE IMMEDIATELY. clean AMerica up ridding it of the sickos out there