Smoking at City Center ?

vda
By vda

Recently I have been to City Center in the evenings quite often. I love roaming around and enjoying the crowd there especially after Iftar timing. The way the crowd grows is fantastic.

But, to my surprise, I have seen many many people sitting at the coffee shops, especially on the tables put outside the coffee shop, and smoking. I can see the NO SMOKING sign at the wall and pillars just behind them. Sometimes, the table itself has a NO SMOKING sign on it.

Most of these smokers seem to be well educated and well off people. I was wondering how they could not see the NO SMOKING sing there and wonder how these educated people do not understand that smoking in public area is band in Qatar. I am sure they are not ignorant of the rule.

By Ines_pt• 7 Sep 2009 12:46
Ines_pt

There are people that can`t respect others!

Even signs....

By Andeee• 7 Sep 2009 12:33
Andeee

To have a "No Smoking" rule or any other rule for that matter you need to have someone that is willing to enforce it... No one wants to tell the locals or anyone else that smoking is forbidden - in case they get shouted at. You need to have someone that can deal with the back fire in such cases. A trained person who can deal with angry and rude people who become defensive and arrogant when told they cannot do something.

Same thing with seatbelts. The law is there but do you seee every single person in every car all buckled up.. nope.. and the worst thing is sometimes they are in the car right next to a police car !!!

By ummjake• 7 Sep 2009 12:30
ummjake

just roaming around the various malls, specifically tasked with ticketing the smoking individuals AND fining the coffee establishments who don't enforce the rules.

Maybe a three strikes rule and the shops would have to close for one week as a penalty. For individuals caught breaking the law, subsequent smoking tickets could be of higher fines, ultimately leading to misdemeanor charges of "endangering public health" which would result in jail time.

But I won't hold my breath. Qatar doesn't truly care about this issue. They merely want to be able to point out the signs on the walls that say "no smoking" and pretend like that means they're serious about public health and safety.

Not until some sheikh dies of second hand smoke will they actually do anything.

"Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise."

-- Maya Angelou

By Alumnar• 7 Sep 2009 12:25
Alumnar

Our oh-so-famous Mums in Doha coffee morning... yes I always smile when I think of that. I was happy to embarass them! ;)

By novita77• 7 Sep 2009 12:21
novita77

I witnessed with my own eyes when Alumnar told off the table full of smoker. And also once when I had a coffee with Alexa.

But it is still the trend in Doha is 'no smoking area' is the new 'designated smoking section'.

By Chairboy• 7 Sep 2009 12:15
Chairboy

No, "they" and we all know who you are, are not ignorant of the rule, they are just ignorant! I would take my hat off to the first Philippina waitress who were to go up to a national who is puffing away and ask him to leave or extinguish his cigarette because it is causing offence and against the law..................it isnt going to happen - why, because they are above this particular law - fact!

By bruhildita• 7 Sep 2009 11:52
Rating: 3/5
bruhildita

vilaggio and city center... if u look poor and smoking around ofcourse security guard will come to u and told u its not allowed... BUT if u are look western or wearing qatari tradditional clothes they will pretend that they didnot saw u...

Let It Be.....

By QatariLady• 7 Sep 2009 11:42
QatariLady

Way to go Alumnar!

By crapcircle• 7 Sep 2009 11:36
crapcircle

That's why I never drink coffee at a mall. I don't think it's right to smoke in areas where smoking is apparently prohibited, but I believe they should make at least one damn smoking cafe in every mall, and everyone would be happy. Smokers rarely want cookies, shakes, tutti frutti crapaccinos...just gimme my double espresso, a glass o' water and an ashtray please! It's apparently impossible to compromise :P

By Alumnar• 7 Sep 2009 11:11
Alumnar

... with my daughter and ask them to stop. If they don't my language skills come to life. You need to inform the mall security and they will ask them to stop smoking or leave. I have complained so much about Starbucks in Villaggio that the Villaggio management is gonna fine Starbucks for not reinforcing the rules!

Sad but true. On a Mums in Doha coffee morning there were customers of the coffee shop smoking on another table. I asked them if they realized how many children and babies were around them and if they felt comfortable smoking despite that. I was towering over them with my hands on my waist... they put the cigarettes out and didn't smoke another one whilst there.

By anonymous• 7 Sep 2009 10:57
anonymous

then why they have not been caught???????????

east or west India is the best

By WitchStix• 7 Sep 2009 10:47
WitchStix

QAR 10,000 if they are caught.

By anonymous• 7 Sep 2009 10:28
anonymous

animals doesn't understand any rules.

By Lion_King• 7 Sep 2009 10:27
Rating: 3/5
Lion_King

As per local regulation smoking is prohibited in public places. Smoking is permitted ONLY in designated areas.

By anonymous• 7 Sep 2009 10:26
anonymous

I was thinking smoking is prohibited in public places

east or west India is the best

By kimd• 7 Sep 2009 09:57
kimd

Try going to Doha Bank in City Centre- it stinks of cigarette smoke. I even saw one of the tellers( Qatari) smoking whilst he was working.

>

May your dreams take you travelling all through your life.

By novita77• 7 Sep 2009 09:42
Rating: 4/5
novita77

there is no point to make 'no smoking' law if you dont enforce it ...

I went to Maya Chocolate cafe with my son, complaining about the smoking of next door customer, the manager asked them nicely to put off the cigarette, they did it.

Few days later we went there again ... and the cafe is nearly full ... most of them are smoking ... I did not bother to go to that cafe in the end ...

By Mr.Bean• 7 Sep 2009 09:17
Mr.Bean

Well, i think that ur understanding on them. all well dressed people are not well educated or well off? we cant judge on their dress what they wear. it is a common sense to obey rules & regulations.it is the duty of the Authorities to look into it.cafe guy cant tell to their customers, they will not get any customers later may b.

By saeed1990• 7 Sep 2009 09:16
saeed1990

its because a cigarette tastes so damn good with coffee, its tempting

thats why i dont go to malls anymore :)

By anonymous• 7 Sep 2009 09:07
anonymous

Don't worry they will die soon of lung cancer!

By ummjake• 7 Sep 2009 09:04
Rating: 5/5
ummjake

Once at Columbus Cafe in Landmark I saw a table full of smokers, just puffing away, and it was genuinely bothering my table mates and me.

I got up and said something to one of the workers behind the counter...and then a few minutes later, one of the smokers got up and went behind the counter too.

He was the manager!

"Most plain girls are virtuous because of the scarcity of opportunity to be otherwise."

-- Maya Angelou

By mjamille28• 7 Sep 2009 08:51
mjamille28

sure they can see the sign, they just choose to ignore it... and the management of the coffee shops doesn't have the guts to tell them off..

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