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.
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.
Dan, this is probably the equivalent of getting New Yorkers to stop drinking coffee, or kvetching.
haha.
oh no, Egypt is doomed to lung ailments forever.
19 million cigarettes, 3 billion EGP.
So, what, 158 EGP per cigarette?
Who got the numbers wrong, the government or you?
Well caught Josef — maybe it’s 19 billion. The figure is from the linked story.