Vox-pop: What do you think of the new smoking ban in Bahrain’s shopping malls, and do you think it will work?

Tariq Mohammed Al Zayadi, 50, manager, Saudi Arabia
I’ve been the vice-president of an anti-smoking society for the last 18 years, so when I saw the no smoking sign here at the mall I was very happy.

I said ‘thank you, God’. I was a smoker and it affected my health and the doctor told me I had to stop. Inshallah, I think the new rules will work.

Nader Al Abbasi, 37, businessman, Juffair
My wife is a regular smoker and I also smoke. We are both against the ban. People have to have some freedom. There should at least be a smoking area in the mall. I don’t think the ban will work because of the climate. It’s too hot to go outside.

Ali Al Ghawas, 59, car parts dealer, Hamad Town
I think the smoking ban is a good idea. I think it’s great that most countries now put smokers in small cages. Smoking is seriously hazardous to human health. I think that with the help of polite security guards the ban will be successful.

Bobbi Mathew, 23, sales executive, Muharraq
I don’t like it all because I’m a smoker. I’ve been smoking for five years, and enjoy it. I really don’t think the ban will work because every mall you go into in Bahrain you see people smoking everywhere.”

Naveen Rajagoplan, 22, student, Manama
I think it’s really good because the malls are clean environments and smoke spoils them. People should smoke outside because in malls there are families and kids. There’s no reason the ban shouldn’t work because it works well in other countries.

Rowena Constan-tino, 26, coffee shop manager, Manama 
Since I came into work today, no one has smoked. People understand that smoking isn’t good for the children. For us it’s also good because when our customers smoke cigars the smell overpowers the aroma of the coffee. I think the ban will work.