Local shops violate Dubai's 24-hour cigarette sale ban

Stores across Dubai were found openly selling cigarettes over the counter on Thursday despite a 24-hour cigarette ban as part of World No Tobacco Day.

Emirates 24|7 visited at least 10 stores across Dubai and found groceries in most residential areas flouting the rules.

A popular convenience store on Sheikh Zayed Road, part of a big chain of small supermarkets, was openly selling cigarettes, flouting the No Tobacco day rule.

Many people stepped in and out of the supermarkets with cigarettes in their hands, some even with receipts.

A dedicated cigarette shop in a hypermarket complex in Al Barsha is also openly selling products to customers.

Many shops in Al Quoz and Tecom were also unaware of any ban.

When asked one shopkeeper said, “We do not know about any ban. Many have been buying cigarettes from us since morning,” said a storekeeper from a convenient store in Tecom in Dubai.

The ban was however being implemented in large supermarkets and all petrol stations.

Dubai Municipality banned sale of tobacco products for 24 hours in the entire emirate to observe the World No Tobacco Day on Thursday.

According to statistics, one person dies every six seconds across the world due to tobacco. Latest research also points out that 15 different types of cancer are caused by smoking tobacco.

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