To smoke or not to smoke?

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Ganster: We’ve not had any official information from the government or Dubai Municipality.

While the rest of the globe celebrates non-smoking anniversaries, Dubai is starting afresh in a smoke-free territory. All three phases of the smoking bans in the emirate are now in force, which effectively prohibits smoking in public areas, educational establishments, food courts, internet cafes and offices. With phase three of the smoking bans now complete, the time for trial and error is over as the director general of Dubai Municipality has stated that fines will be imposed on violators in 2008.

Although the directives for non-smoking sound clear, the reality is that many within the food and beverage industry are unclear about what the bans mean, which rules apply to them and what penalties are imposed if found in violation of the bans. They claim this is largely due to the lack of information from Dubai Municipality channels, which is creating a culture of confusion within the industry.

Simple centres

F&B outlets within public areas are non-smoking zones with one exception to the rule. The Dubai Municipality has installed the facility for F&B outlets to apply for authorisation from the Municipality to continue smoking on their premises.

"In order for them (F&B outlets) to get approval, they need to satisfy the clinic section in certain areas in terms of extraction and filtration, cleaning of the air and then returning it smoke-free," explains BurJuman and Reef Mall operations manager Bruce Von Kaufmann.

Outlets that occupy the perimeter of the malls have the advantage of expanding and utilising outside space to accommodate smokers and many coffee shops and F&B outlets already feature outside seating.

"A few of our coffee shops are very fortunate and they have outdoor seating so they are ahead of the game anyway, although a couple of our coffee shops are just in the middle of the mall and they will have to look at other ways to get around it by liaising with the Municipality clinic section," Kaufmann explains.

It is the responsibility of F&B outlets within public spaces to accommodate smokers as malls have set-up their own separate designated areas.

"In terms of the mall and public space, we've created ourselves external and dedicated smoking areas and if outlets feel that they can generate revenue by allowing smoking, they need to include it," adds Kaufmann.

With the traditional smoking culture in the UAE a dominant feature of the Dubai lifestyle, there is concern among F&B outlets that the bans will lead to loss of business.

"Within this culture and this climate there is potential for loss of earning by not having smoking at this particular point in time, I know for a fact that a number of cafes and F&B outlets have already made enquiries with the Municipality, its not only BurJuman that has been affected," says Kaufmann.

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