First 'smoking-free' Saudi city: Taif

A Saudi city banned sale of cigarettes and other types of tobacco at all shops as part of plan to become a “smoking free” town.

The southern town of Taif told all its shops and supermarkets to refrain from selling all types of tobacco and warned violators of tough penalties.

Scores of health inspectors have been deployed to check compliance with the decision, the first in the Gulf Kingdom of nearly 30 million people.

“The drive is aimed at turning Taif into a smoking free city. All shops have been told to stop selling cigarettes and any other type of tobacco,” Al Riyadh newspaper said.