SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being


3.3.6 Smoke-Free Policy

World Health Organization

Tobacco control policies

Protect people from tobacco smoke

Based on the 2015 WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic (5), which includes data from 2014, Kuwait has smokefree legislation covering health care facilities, education facilities and universities, government facilities, restaurants, and public transport, but none covering indoor offices. There are fines for violations on both the establishment and the patron. There are also funds dedicated for enforcement and a space for citizen complaints and investigations. However, subnational bans do not exist. No compliance score was given for 2014.

Offer help to quit tobacco use

According to 2014 data, Kuwait is classified at level 4 out of 4 for cessation programmes, with many services available that are cost-covered. Kuwait is considered to provide some cessation treatment in some health care facilities. There is a quit line and nicotine replacement therapy is available.

Warn about the dangers of tobacco

According to 2014 data, Kuwait is classified at level 3 out of 4 for health warnings. There have been four warnings approved by law, but they are missing some appropriate characteristics. Warnings are mandated to cover 50% of the front and rear of the principal display area, be rotating and include a photograph or graphic. They describe the harmful effects of tobacco use on health, are written in the principal language(s), and font size, font style and colour of health warnings are mandated. However, warnings do not appear on each package and any outside packaging and labelling used in the retail sale. Health warnings are considered at the second highest level. Government expenditure on tobacco control was US$ 892 000. This is considered a mid-level tobacco control campaign.

Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship

According to 2014 data, there are bans on direct tobacco advertising on national/international television and radio, local/international magazines and newspapers, billboards and outdoors, point-of-sale and the internet, and fines for violations of these bans. For indirect advertising, there are bans on the free distribution of tobacco products, promotional discounts, non-tobacco goods/services identified with tobacco brand names, brand names of non-tobacco goods/services used for tobacco products, and appearance of tobacco brands in television and/or film (product placement). There are fines for violations of indirect advertising bans. However, Kuwait does not have bans on tobacco displays at point of sale, appearance of tobacco products in television and/or films (non-product placement), sponsored events, tobacco companies/industry/other entities publicizing their activities, tobacco companies funding or making contributions to smoking prevention media campaigns including those directed at youth, and there is no requirement to present prescribed anti-tobacco adverts before, during, or after the broadcasting or showing of any visual entertainment. No compliance score was given for 2014.

Raise taxes on tobacco

In accordance with MPOWER policies, we consider the effect of increasing excise taxes (including ad valorem taxes or specific taxes directly on cigarettes) to 75% of the retail price. Value added tax (VAT) applies to all goods, not just cigarettes, but amplifies the effect of an excise tax on cigarette price. The change in excise taxes is first translated into the implied percentage change in price. The prevalence elasticity is applied to the percentage change in price to obtain the percentage change in prevalence. In Kuwait, a pack of cigarettes is 0.75 Kuwaiti dinars (US$ 2.65), of which 34.72% is taxes (0.00% VAT, 0.00% excise taxes and 34.72% import duties) according to 2014 data.

Smoking inside educational institutions strictly prohibited in Kuwait

When caught smoker will be fine $164 and the institution will have to pay a $3,291

POLICYGCCKUWAITHEALTH

KUWAIT CITY: Deputy Director- General for Technical Affairs at the Public Authority for Environment (EPA) Mohammad Al-Enezi said that the Authority will make a tour of universities and colleges soon to implement the executive regulations of the Environment Protection Law that forbids smoking inside educational institutions, and that includes universities, colleges and applied institutes, reports Al-Rai daily.

Al-Enezi said anyone caught smoking on the campus or in the buildings annexes will have to pay a fine of KD 50 and the institution will have to pay a KD 1,000 for its failure to protect its premises from smokers. Al-Enezi said EPA has recently issued a number of citations inside applied institutes and warned the university administration to ban smoking altogether at various colleges.

Health Ministry launches anti-smoking campaign

KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday launched an awareness campaign on the dangers of tobacco, in cooperation with the National Anti-Smoking Program. Vice President of the Health Ministry’s National Anti-smoking Program Dr Ahmad Al-Shatti said during the campaign that the ministry is working to reduce the number of smokers due to its negative effects on human health.

Al-Shatti noted that smoking is not a “masculine behavior and includes both genders,” which calls for raising the level of awareness as well as control of sales of tobacco, prevent smoking in public places, and stop advertising and promoting it. Head of the Health Promotion Department and member of the National Anti-Smoking Program Dr Abeer Al-Bahou stated that tobacco harms “our health as well as the planet, adding that the campaign aims to encourage governments to end tobacco cultivation and switch to more sustainable crops that support farmers to improve food security and nutrition.”

They said the spread of smoking in Kuwait poses a great danger to the health of citizens and significantly hinders health development. A previous study published in the American Library showed smokers in Kuwait reached 49.9 percent among men and 4.4 percent among women, while the number of smokers who continue to smoke in Kuwait is 39.2 percent among men and 3.3 percent among women.

A study on the relationship between smoking and cancer conducted in GCC countries, including Kuwait, revealed 16.3 percent of cancer cases are related to smoking, and that the most common cancers associated with smoking are lung cancer, followed by bladder cancer and colorectal cancer.  Dr Shaheen and Dr Otaibi indicated that smoking in Kuwait has become a direct danger to families, especially after the spread of electronic cigarettes and misunderstanding about its dangers.

A comparative study revealed the percentage of smoking among primary education students in Kuwait is 28.8 percent compared to 9.3 percent in Oman, which reflects the danger of smoking, its spread among adolescents and the need to intensify educational programs that promote health culture among young people in Kuwait to combat tobacco in all its forms among students. Dr Shaheen and Dr Otaibi concluded their statement by saying studies have shown the risk of smoking increases among university students, as a study published in 2020 showed the rate of smoking cigarettes and shisha among university students in Kuwait is 46 percent, compared to 42.3 percent in Saudi Arabia. 

Dr Saleh said the society prepared a list of activities to celebrate World Anti Smoking Day, including lectures by specialists in cooperation with the education and social affairs ministries, in addition to an exhibition to spread awareness about smoking and TV and newspaper interviews. He said a seminar will be held on the harmful effects of e-cigarettes on May 31.— KUNA

AUM Smoke Free Policy

AUM has a smoke-free policy, which specifies that students and university personnel are prohibited from selling and consuming tobacco or other psychoactive substances within AUM facilities. It also clarifies that the only exceptions to the policy are for research or theatrical productions; requests for exceptions must be submitted to Risk Management and Environmental Health and Safety for review. For medical research exceptions, the university must apply to the Kuwait Department of Health for exemption.

Similarly, AUM establishes some outdoor areas where its staff and students may smoke, and failure to comply with these rules will result in disciplinary action for violators.

This policy establishes that people who wish to smoke may not do so in the indoor facilities of the university but must go to the spaces that the university has designated for this activity because, for AUM, it is essential to take care of the health and welfare of all its students and staff.

Extract from Student Code of Conduct – Article 25

No-Smoking Policy  

Smoking is prohibited inside the university premises. It is strictly prohibited for students to smoke in any part of the university premises (such as corridors, toilets, elevators or emergency exits).

Library Code of Conduct

The following minimum standards of conduct are to be observed in the Library:

Personal belongings left in the Library will be taken to Lost and Found in Student Affairs. 

Extract from Practical Information for Faculty and Staff for the new academic year 2024-2025

Compliance

The success of this policy relies on the thoughtfulness, consideration, and cooperation of all the campus community. It is the responsibility of all members of AUM to comply with this policy.

For any misconduct regarding not applying the smoking policy, please contact:

University disciplinary procedures will be implemented on members who do not comply with the No-smoking policy. 

Anti-Smoking Campaign

AUM carries out an anti-smoking campaign with its students to raise awareness among participants that smoking can have significant long-term consequences such as health deterioration and environmental damage. To achieve the participation of students and staff, No Smoking signs are abundantly placed everywhere on campus with some making consequences of smoking and that smoking tobacco is a vice that kills in the long term.

Executive Regulation regarding Rules and Regulations for Smoking in Closed and Partially Closed Public Places – Article 3

Smoking or using cigarettes or tobacco in any form is prohibited in the following public places: 

1. Public and private educational institutions, such as schools, universities, academies, scientific and teacher training institutes and their annexes. 

2. Houses of worship and their annexes. 

3. Health and pharmaceutical facilities and their annexes. 

4. Sports facilities, unless commercially licensed, without prejudice to the requirements and standards that are included in the articles of this regulation. 

5. Public transportation and private group transportation, their designated waiting areas, collection points, and annexes. 

6. Vehicles for transporting foods, medicines, or health products and the like. 

7. Vehicles for transporting petroleum products and their derivatives, chemical products and their derivatives, and any other flammable products. 

8. Shopping centers, except for authorized smoking areas, which meet the conditions contained in this regulation. 

9. Restaurants, except for authorized smoking areas, which meet the conditions contained in this regulation. 

10. Entertainment and recreation areas, theaters, movie theaters, and the like, except for authorized areas. 

11. Industrial facilities and fuel or gas stations and their annexes. 

Second: The following must be adhered to in all closed or partially closed public places: 

1. A “No Smoking” sign in Arabic and English must be placed in visible locations at the entrances to public areas. 

2. All ashtrays must be removed from public places where smoking is banned. 

3. If ashtrays are placed outside of public buildings, locating them at least four (4) meters away from the entrances must be considered. 

4. A license must be obtained from the Authority for places where smoking is allowed in accordance with the rules, regulations and standards contained in this regulation.

Subject: Environment Protection Act No. 42 of 2014

On the occasion of the ratification and adoption of the Environment Protection Act No. 42/2014 and its publication in the official gazette on 13 July 2014, we direct your attention to Article 56 of the said Act as it relates to your field of work and your esteemed Authority, asking you to follow up and implement its provisions on environmental obligations. Article 56 The advertising of cigarettes and all types of tobacco products, derivatives and necessities shall be prohibited in the territory of the State of Kuwait, in addition to prohibiting smoking in enclosed and semi-enclosed public places and public means of transportation. All parties shall take all the necessary measures to ban smoking in such places in a manner that ensures preventing harm to others. [stamp: Dr. Mohamed Jassim al-Hukty - Assistant Undersecretary for Public Health] Sami al-Nasser [signature]

Ministerial Decree No. (23), 201

Smoking shall be prohibited in the following public places: