Prime Minister Directs Closure of Establishments Providing Shisha or Tobacco to Those Under 18

Al-Taj News – Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan on Sunday directed the Ministry of Health and relevant authorities to tighten oversight of all establishments, activate Article 63 of the Public Health Law, and close establishments proven to provide shisha or sell or provide tobacco products to those under the age of 18, while holding establishments found to be in violation fully responsible.

The directive comes in light of practices being observed at some establishments that violate the law by providing shisha services or selling or providing tobacco products to those under the age of 18. This poses a direct risk to the health of children and adolescents and contributes to encouraging them to begin using tobacco products and exposing them to health risks, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter Twelve of Public Health Law No. (47) of 2008 concerning the protection of public health from the harms of smoking.