Is this realy a good idea??

Is it really a good idea to separate the customers from the merchants for everyday living items such as food and sundries??

Eating joints in the dark on residential area rules
By Chitra Datta
MANY eateries facing eviction from residential areas are unaware they may have to move following new regulations established by the Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning Department, Gulf Times has found.
The new rules stand to affect a significant number of cafes, restaurants and bakeries operating in places where people live – yet the majority of managers are oblivious to the threat to their livelihoods.
The supervisor of one such eatery in Al-Muntaza admitted: “I am not aware of such a notification, but if such a thing happens we will be devastated.”
New rules to regulate the food industry were introduced in 2007 and 2008 – effectively outlawing eateries in residential areas.
Dr Ma’an N R al-Ani, health consultant with the General Department for Municipal Health Administration Affairs, Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Urban Planning, explained: “Eateries in residential areas eventually have to move out. I am not aware of the time frame the ministry will decide that.”
He said: “Food courts within supermarkets or within compounds with licenses will be allowed. A residential area housing a supermarket with food courts inside will be allowed. But eating joints in residential buildings do not fit our bill.
“People staying in top floors with eating joints operating below have caught our attention. As per the new regulation they will have to eventually move out.
“Cooking inside eateries generates a lot of fume and smoke, which is irritable to residents. Even bakeries in residential areas will have to improvise their facilities as per the new rules. Bakeries operate ovens, which may not be very congenial in residential areas.
“We plan to talk and have meetings with the people concerned to see how best we can help them implement the new regulation.”
Although no timeframe has been put on the implementation of the new regulations, many eateries fear a huge loss of business.
The supervisor from Al-Muntaza said: “Breakfast, lunch and dinner are the legs of our business. Customer-friendly home deliveries have raked in appreciable orders. Our clientele base includes families and bachelors.
“We satiate customers who want take away food. Many drop in to savour our recipes here. A new place will catapult many difficulties. We are experienced in this locality.
“Getting a similar place elsewhere may pose problems. Rents will be high. Space may be restricted. Fresh investments may be beyond our means. It will brew in a lot of troubles for us. Customers will plummet. Our regular clientele will dwindle.”
He said: “The farther the new place will be away from the heart of the city the more arduous will be the operation. Our raw materials hail from the main vegetable market.
“If distance increases then transportation cost will also escalate. We cater to a wide range of population, from locals to a variety of people of Asian origin. All will get affected.”
An Egyptian eatery in the same area – and favoured by Qataris, Filipinos and Arabs – had similar fears.
“Fish is the focus of our menu,” said the manager. “Fish-loving people flock here. Our delicious preparations draw young and old alike. I am not aware of such a regulation but if we have to shift it will wreak havoc. Rentals will increase. Our customer base will rock and investment will have to be made fresh.
“Cultivating fresh customers will pose fresh challenges. Rising prices have already hit us hard. Customers too would face hardships for they have to travel long distances to get a bite of their favourite morsel and at the end of a hard day’s work many may not muster enough enthusiasm to travel a long distance for that.”
As well as concerns coming from the management, customers have also voiced alarm at the new measures.
Taraq Ramzi said of his favoured eating place: “I come here regularly for a bite and takeaways too. If this shifts then I may have to forego the taste part and survive on whatever I can get my hands on. It will be troublesome.”
Vladimir Agsalud, a Filipino customer, was aghast at the thought of having to give up his favourite joint on Najma Street. He said: “I often work until late evening. This joint is near my place. I just drop in and eat and go. Since I do not cook I get some rest after work. Cooking will rob me of my rest time.”
Dr al-Ani said meetings had already taken place to inform proprietors of the new regulations and more would take place in the future with inspectors dispatched to spread the word.
Another area of concern at the municipality is the prevalence of smoking in eateries.
“No smoking in such eating joints is the law,” explained Dr al-Ani.
“You cannot smoke in a cafe except for a big cafe, which has provision of smoking outside and has a license like in the Corniche. No one is allowed to smoke near schools, government buildings, university, colleges and mosques. Both cigarette and sheesha smoking is not allowed near these places. This is as per the Control Tobacco and its Derivatives Law of 2002.
“We will try to put an onus on the owners of eateries to prevent their customers from smoking. Our educators are constantly trying to educate and wean away people from smoking.”