Egypt bans smoking (partially)

Egypt Passes National Anti-Smoking Law:

Smoking will now be prohibited in health and educational organizations, youth centers, legislative associations and all governmental authorities and clubs. A fine between 1,000 EGP ($175 USD) and 50,000 EGP ($9,000 USD) was also added to the new law for violations of the new tobacco law.

According to a report by the Health Committee, Egyptians smoke roughly 19 million cigarettes each year, spending around 3 billion EGP ($520 million USD). It added that smokers in the country increase by six to nine percent every year as compared to only one percent in the West.

Yeah right -- civil servants and MPs are going to stop smoking in public buildings. I'd like to see how this will be inforced, particularly with such high fines.

Comments

[dan]

for what it's worth, your reaction was what they said about new york, a few years back. it's also what they said about banning smoking in planes and offices in the US, ages ago. it's also what they're saying in Paris, now, where I think the smoking ban goes into effect in a few months? I suppose enforcement and obedience is a different issue in 3rd world vs. 1st world cities, though.

Sometimes you still go into a club/concert in NYC and get some people smoking. They should be sent to some island prison colony, these people.

[SP]

Dan, this is probably the equivalent of getting New Yorkers to stop drinking coffee, or kvetching.

[dan]

haha.

oh no, Egypt is doomed to lung ailments forever.

[Josef Assad]

19 million cigarettes, 3 billion EGP.

So, what, 158 EGP per cigarette?

Who got the numbers wrong, the government or you?

[Issandr El Amrani]

Well caught Josef -- maybe it's 19 billion. The figure is from the linked story.