Should Sheeshas be banned?

Dear Betsy, I read your comments about Sheesha smoking last week. My son and his friends have got this bug and think it is trendy. It is not supposed to be dangerous because it has no tobacco but just fruits and can't cause cancer. I am not sure if this is true, and he won't listen to me. I am worried that he is exposing himself to harm and every weekend they sit in these cafes for hours and hours. If he reads it in GW then maybe he will believe it.

A worried mum.

Dear Worried Mum,

Of course it is dangerous and some doctors believe it to be more deadly than cigarettes. Of course it is regarded as carcinogenic and because it does not 'taste' as bad as regular cigarettes it lulls youngsters into a false sense of security and they convince themselves that it is safe and 'cool' to smoke sheesha. The Dubai Municipality are so convinced of the danger of sheesha to young people that from November 18th 2007 they are banning youngsters aged under 20 years from entering a sheesha cafŽ. They are also limiting the opening hours of sheesha cafes to around 1am rather than till practically dawn, as it is at present. They have also declared that from the same date, all cafes and restaurants in Dubai will be strictly no-smoking zones. So, by the time you read this these new laws will be in effect in Dubai, making it the ideal (healthy) weekend break. I spoke to a leading hotelier in Abu Dhabi this week who told me it is only a matter of time until the rest of the Emirates also become a smoke free zone. So come on Bahrain, do we value the health of our young people less? No of course not so let's see some regulation of youngsters in sheesha cafes and smoke-free restaurants becoming enforced law here. Shops that sell sheesha tobacco and equipment should also have rules that forbid them selling to youngsters. Okay, if they are determined to smoke sheesha then they will find a way round these rules, but at least we shouldn't make it easy for them to ruin their own health or that of others.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? SHOULD WE BAN SHEESHA FOR THE UNDER 20'S? EMAIL BETSY WITH YOUR VIEWS.

Dear Betsy,

Unbelievable! Who is this Mr Woodbine and what world does he live in?

He is stuck in a time warp.

What will be next for him? Club all women and keep them chained in their caves?

His thinking is pre-historic in more ways than one and just proves what we all know, smokers are a selfish bunch.

He is in for a shock when the no smoking rule becomes law in Bahrain as it has in UK.

Apart from his ignorance and rudeness he showed a total lack of class, "Mr Woodbine" is that the brand you associate yourself with? Then we know your type very well. Get back in your box.

In my office about half of us smoke and what a difference it made to our working environment when they banned smoking in the building.

My colleague in HR will tell you that it reduced absenteeism and improved productivity.

You have my vote for a smoke-free zone in bars and restaurants, and then all those dinosaurs like Mr. Woodbine can stay at home instead of us non-smokers.

Miss Black Velvet

Dear Miss Black Velvet,

I remember woodbines when I was at school.....a sad, pathetic, inferior little article that only the most desperate smokers would succumb to.

You could smell them at fifty paces from the bicycle sheds. Yuk! Yes I am sure you are correct about reduced absenteeism and increased productivity amongst the non-smokers, but smokers may argue that they suffer so badly from withdrawal symptoms that it ruins their powers of concentration and focus.

Combined with their need for frequent trips to "the bathroom" to top up their nicotine levels, this may mean they are less productive.

What do smokers think? Does not being able to smoke at work make you less able to focus on your job? Let's hear your views.

Dear Betsy,

Yes, it is time to ban smoking in all bars and restaurants. Yes, concentrating on this would reduce health care costs.

Yes we would all be healthier.

Yes, it probably will become law.

No, it won't be enforced. No, it won't mean non smokers like me can finally enjoy a smoke free gourmet dinner. No, yes, no yes.

Wake up Betsy, take your head out of the clouds, this is not UK there is no respect for the law.

You are only setting yourself up for a big disappointment. I don't know why you bother.

It won't make any difference but it might sell a few newspapers I suppose.

R.T. D.

Dear RTD,

Oh dear, sounds to me like you need a holiday.

You are so despondent and much of what you say will be agreed by many, but if we don't speak up and at least try to change things then where would we be?

What if the suffragettes had kept quiet or Nelson Mandela or Ghandi?

The longest journey begins with the first step and if we were all so apathetic consider how our lives might be. You took the time to email me so you do care.

What is the alternative? Keeping quiet, accepting whatever life throws at you and suffering in silence? I don't think so!