In 1949, two British researchers, Richard Doll and Bradford Hill, found that of 649 lung cancer patients in London hospitals, 647 were smokers. Their work was arguably the most important moment in the earliest days of a public health campaign that has been going on since: reducing smoking. It has not been an easy one. While convincing the medical community of the dangers was first priority, doing something about it was more complex. It required engaging with and, at points, confronting some of the biggest conglomerates as well as the deeper social acceptance of a habit that had been practised so widely for so long.
Early strategies were very similar to today's. In 1962, smoking rates fell for the first time in a decade. Doctors' recommendations included heavy taxes, along with age and advertising restrictions.
In the Middle East, implementing such policies is imperative. The latest data from the World Tobacco Atlas shows that since 2009, the number of smokers increased in a 10-year period in four of the region's nations. This is worrying. The Middle East is already heavily burdened by heart disease and strokes – smoking is a major risk factor in both. Lebanon, whose healthcare system is at breaking point, has the highest number of smokers of any Middle Eastern country.
There were some positive stories from the region. In the UAE, the tobacco trade fell from Dh410 million in 2017 to Dh62.4m in 2019. This is widely credited to the UAE imposing in 2017 a 100 per cent excise tax on cigarettes. It vindicates advocates of economic strategies to tackle smoking. They include the WHO, who in its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control recommends that at least three-quarters of the price of popular tobacco brands be taxes.
This approach is also working in Saudi Arabia where a 2017 policy mandates that 68 per cent of the price of 20-cigarette pack be taxes. Further ones on imported tobacco have seen an almost 30 per cent decline in foreign cigarettes coming into the country. Overall, 37 per cent fewer people were smoking in 2022 compared to 2014.
In a sign of how complex the public health problem remains, there are still grounds for concern, even in countries where trends otherwise seem positive. Globally, in almost half of the 135 surveyed countries, smoking in people between 13 and 15 had increased, a sign that, alongside taxation, consumer awareness from a young age of the dangers is key.
Ongoing progress is not guaranteed, and new unknowns are emerging. The National spoke to Dr Davinder Pal Singh, a cardiologist at NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai, who drew particular attention to the issue of vaping, which he said had "increased rapidly in the past few years". A false sense of security might be driving the trend, even though the devices still contain tobacco. Dr Singh was clear: "It’s going to affect the heart ... It contains nicotine in some form. People should definitely avoid vaping. It’s the same as cigarettes.”
The picture from the latest tranche of data is mixed, then. While there is more evidence that regulation and legislation work, there is clearly not enough across the board, particularly when it comes to researching dangers of newer forms of tobacco consumption. For the Middle East, countries that are getting complacent should learn from the many neighbours taking effective steps with clear results. The dangers of smoking are obvious, but there are proven strategies to dealing with them. Ignoring them would be a betrayal of populations whose health is already too often precarious.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Meatless Days
Sara Suleri, with an introduction by Kamila Shamsie
Penguin
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch
Power: 710bhp
Torque: 770Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 2.9 seconds
Top Speed: 340km/h
Price: Dh1,000,885
On sale: now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 502hp at 7,600rpm
Torque: 637Nm at 5,150rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: from Dh317,671
On sale: now
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
ATP RANKINGS (NOVEMBER 4)
1. Rafael Nadal (ESP) 9,585 pts ( 1)
2. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 8,945 (-1)
3. Roger Federer (SUI) 6,190
4. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 5,705
5. Dominic Thiem (AUT) 5,025
6. Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) 4,000 ( 1)
7. Alexander Zverev (GER) 2,945 (-1)
8. Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 2,670 ( 1)
9. Roberto Bautista (ESP) 2,540 ( 1)
10. Gaël Monfils (FRA) 2,530 ( 3)
11. David Goffin (BEL) 2,335 ( 3)
12. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 2,290
13. Kei Nishikori (JPN) 2,180 (-2)
14. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) 2,125 ( 1)
15. Denis Shapovalov (CAN) 2,050 ( 13)
16. Stan Wawrinka (SUI) 2,000
17. Karen Khachanov (RUS) 1,840 (-9)
18. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 1,775
19. John Isner (USA) 1,770 (-2)
20. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 1,747 ( 7)
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
