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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 2 of 2)
Susan Apr 26th 2010 3:02AM
Keep letting the government tell us what we can do and can't do and we are in for a lot of problems. Nicotine is a drug, along w/ alcohol. Alcohol kills more people then cigarettes. Fast foods are killing us, the preservatives in our foods, the cars we drive, the antibiotics and steriods in our meats. Sitting on our a##. Why give one group of people more rights then others. Lets tax that big mac, your car, food, alcohol the way they have taxed cigarettes and lets see who complains then. It is always easier to point to the other guy, but why don't you look in the mirror and adjust your way of life. Heart disease is the #1 killer-fatty foods and sitting on the sofa........Our air has more contaminates from other things then it does w/ cigarettes, but I bet you won't give up driving. And look at all the people attending AA meetings or killing people while they drive............
Bryan Apr 26th 2010 2:43AM
I think they should pass a "No Bitching Law" and enforce it. The only people that sit around and complain about things such as cigg smoke is people that want to control other peoples lives. I dont know how it is in other states but here in Florida smokers have to smoke outside of public buildings. I am a smoker and I DO agree with this law because non-smokers shouldn't have to inhale my cigg smoke BUT that is where it should STOP. Im out in the open air smoking which means that my cigg smoke IS NOT harming NO ONE. So you control freaks need to get a life and leave everyone elses alone, PERIOD.
Sniper Bob Apr 26th 2010 3:11AM
I'm ALL for people killing themselves, whether quickly or slowly, I just ask that you don't annoy others while doing it. Second hand smoke is like peeing only in the shallow end of the hot tub! It's a STINKING NASTY habit. To all smoking idiots who think they're healthy -I say "go walk up a couple of flights of stairs the next time you have an urge to smoke" and see how healthy you are.
Just go ahead and shoot yourself, cut your writsts, jump off a bridge- but quit stinking up MY air assholes!
Sniper Bob Apr 26th 2010 4:23AM
YOUR right to smoke ends right where MY nose can smell it.
Sniper Bob Apr 26th 2010 3:22AM
Smokers right to smoke ends exactly at the point others can smell it. If cigarettes are so great why isn't their cigarette flavored ice cream? The shit stinks- you stink, everything around you stinks. Only a certified loser who cares about NOTHING would take up that habit. Weak willed, sickly, wrinkly faced, foul breathed, walking wounded with one leg in the grave ignorant shit heads that everybody else loaths.. that's a smoker.
Jimbob Apr 27th 2010 1:03PM
You sound like some freaky so called heath nut , that hasn't grown up yet or dont know diddly about the history of the country and where everything you enjoy comes from or came from ! The people that won the freedomes you were not all non smokers nor were the cities bridges , freeways, dams, power plants, trucks drivers, you name it ,.
Jimbob Apr 27th 2010 5:17AM
My quetion is , what would you rather do ? Put an exhaust hose from an auto in your'e window all closed up or sit in a closed room with cigarette smoke all day long ? Which would kill you quicker , the cigarette smoke or the exhaust fumes from your automobile ? I think you all know the answer ! Furthermore there is a multitude of other poisons that people and animals are forced to breath , like pesticides, insecticides, and numorous food additives and field burning , fireplaces and babecue grills , volcanos, dust from wind and hurricains and tornados, and all exhaust fumes from all fuel burning vehicles including air craft, trains, buses and ships,! Does a cigarette or the like do any more harm than anyting mentioned above //?
Marcie Apr 26th 2010 8:23AM
Susqueh....Nobody parks their car in your livingroom. And nobody is saying you can't smoke. You just can't smoke where it will subject other people to the fumes. Cars have a purpose, they provide transportation. The accidents and pollution from cars is the price we pay to get where we need to go. Cigarettes serve no useful purpose. They are nothng but an evil addiction. They are specifically designed to be addicting so that cigarette companies can make thousands of dollars from each smoker, year after year. If you didn't smoke, maybe you could afford a car. If your mind wasn't in an addict's haze, maybe you could make more sense.
Jimbob Apr 27th 2010 1:03PM
I can understand how you call me names because of your'e selfish demands on others, but perhaps you need to sweep of your'e own door step and maybe pull some skelet ons out of your'e own unaduterated closets that are unnessary indugenses you prefer to smoking, I am sure you non smokers stink as much as anyone with your'e garlic laden breaths, perfumes , inbred intolerent habits that plague you . You may be wise to learn to love yourself then perhaps you may be able to tollerate others that are different than you in your'e puffed up admiration of yourself and the so called healthy life you have, which I believe is a bunch of B.S.!
Furthermore there no place in the bible that says smoking is a sin and where is liberty and justice for all? Only one sinless man ever lived and you all know who that was J.C.