Absence of dedicated rooms forces smokers outdoors

A smoker lights up outside a mall in Doha.

By Bonnie James/Deputy News Editor

The absence of dedicated smokers’ rooms in most of the enclosed public areas, where Qatar has prohibited smoking by law, is forcing smokers outside, thereby endangering non-smokers as well by exposing them to passive smoke.

It is a common sight to see smokers puffing away standing outside the entrances of malls and government and private sector offices as these locations seldom have “entirely closed places” for smoking.

“My wife and I, who are both allergic to cigarette smoke, are engulfed in noxious fumes exhaled by smokers whenever we enter or exit some of the popular malls in Doha,” an expatriate professional told Gulf Times.

According to Article 10 of Law No (20) of the Year 2002 on The Control of Tobacco and its Derivatives, smoking is prohibited in five categories of closed public areas.

The first covers means of public transport. The second category comprises schools, educational and training centres, universities, hospitals, health centres and other educational institutions and health facilities.

In the third are ministries and other government bodies, organisations, public corporations, sports clubs, societies, centres and public places, lifts, cinemas and theatres.

The fourth category comprises industrial establishments and commercial centres whereas the fifth covers restaurants and other places which sell food or drinks to the public.

The law stipulates that entirely closed places may be allocated for smoking in the areas designated in the first four categories while in the fifth category, areas allocated for smokers may not be entirely closed.

“There should be separate closed areas outside such public facilities where smokers could go, instead of polluting the open areas and endangering non-smokers too,” a healthcare expert suggested.

Some companies have provided dedicated smokers’ rooms, but this often causes problems as smoke gets sucked into the centralised air conditioning system and pollutes the entire network.

“The only solution is to establish smokers’ rooms outside the office buildings, in such a way that it does not force the non-smokers to inhale second-hand smoke,” he explained.

Medical experts have warned time and again that passive smoking from all forms of tobacco increases the risk of cancer, coronary heart disease and other health problems. It is also particularly harmful for children.

Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals, made up of particles and gases, over 50 of which are known to cause cancer. Second-hand smoke has been confirmed as a cause of lung cancer in humans by several leading health authorities. 

Compounds such as ammonia, sulphur and formaldehyde irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. These compounds are especially harmful to people with respiratory conditions such as bronchitis or asthma. Exposure to second-hand smoke can either trigger or worsen symptoms.

“Inhaling second-hand smoke used to be a major problem at the now closed Gulf Cinema complex,” recalled another resident while explaining that people used to smoke everywhere except in the cinema halls.

There are many motorists who smoke while driving. “They leave their car windows open and hold the cigarette outside when waiting at a traffic signal. If you happen to be in the adjacent lane, with the windows of your car down, you are forced to inhale the second-hand smoke,” a motorist said.