Freeze on new shisha cafe licences sought for Capital’s Second Constituency

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Licences for new shisha cafés in the Capital’s Second Constituency face a freeze, with Parliament to debate the plan on Tuesday to curb smoking and ease King Faisal Highway congestion.

The motion asks the relevant authorities to stop issuing new permits in the constituency, set firmer conditions to prevent breaches and impose penalties where violations are proven.

It also calls on the government to prepare, as soon as possible, a detailed study to reset the licensing process and to broaden local trade beyond cafés.

Pause

Backers point to a dense cluster of shisha outlets and argue for a pause while the review is carried out.

They also cite heavy traffic on King Faisal Highway and the need to spread investment across different lines of business.

The Ministry of Health says licensing is already governed by tobacco-control law.

Law No. 8 of 2009 bans shisha cafés in sports clubs, public parks and gardens.

Health rules

Decision No. 2 of 2011 sets the health rules for places that serve tobacco and, in Article 5, bars shisha in internet cafés, residential areas, parks and public gardens, sports clubs and shopping malls.

Any issue or suspension of licences must follow these rules.

The Bahrain Anti-Smoking Society supports the move.

It says the step matches national public-health aims and World Health Organization measures, noting Bahrain’s fourth-place standing in WHO reports among countries applying the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the target to cut current tobacco use by 30 per cent by 2025.

Approach

It also points to the WHO declaration of Manama as a Healthy City and urges extending the approach to other governorates within a plan to move towards a smoke-free Bahrain.After review, the public utilities and environment committee recommended approval by consensus of members present, citing clear public-interest grounds.

The motion was tabled by MPs Second Deputy Speaker Ahmed Qarata, Hisham Al Awadhi, Jameel Mulla Hassan, Mohammed Al Olaiwi and Mohammed Al Refai.