Those who have been to Kuwait would know that some locals enjoy smoking shisha, a glass-bottomed water pipe in which fruit-flavored tobacco is covered with foil and roasted with charcoal for recreational purposes.
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However, an announcement noting the approval of a proposal submitted by member Ahmad Al-Enezi to separate restaurant licenses from that of cafes and ban shishas in cafes will be a change that is expected to affect part of the local culture of Kuwait.
Soon, Shishas to be Banned in Cafes in Kuwait
According to a report shared by the Arab Times Online, the issue of “shisha” (hubble-bubble) reemerged on the tables of the Municipal Council concerning a proposal suggesting separation of the licenses of restaurants from cafes and banning shisha in cafes.
Interestingly, the proposal was approved by nine votes against two. Council member Ahmad Hadian who presented the proposal confirmed that the use of shisha has become common in Kuwait without having any commercial classification and despite being considered illegal.
For his part, Deputy Director of Capital and Jahra Municipal Affairs Engineer Faisal Sadeq noted that the municipality “will implement the decision concerning banning the use of shisha in closed areas, and there is coordination with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to change some classifications and titles after the ban on smoking shisha in closed places takes effect.”
In line with this, relevant officials expect the proposed ban on shisha in cafes would be the same as the proposal to “prevent shisha for families”, thus adequate response would come from the relevant minister.”
In other related affairs, the council agreed to refer recommendations of the workshop of the legal committee and the environment committee to the legal committee to prepare a memorandum, which will be submitted to the council for ratification.
The recommendations presented include providing the Kuwait municipality with a GPS tracking system for all garbage trucks, including those under government contracts or private contracts. The council also agreed to refer the workshop’s recommendation to monitor cleaning contracts that are concerned with cleaning investment and commercial areas, in addition to other bodies such as hospitals, so that the municipality will follow up and monitor all cleaning contracts, whether they are affiliated with it or not.
Earlier this year, the proposed prohibition of shishas in certain public places was faced with the challenges of differentiation and practical application between one class and others in restaurants and cafés.
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