Supermarkets to comply with U-20 tobacco ban 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) While supermarket chains in the emirate yesterday said they would comply with the Dubai Municipality directive not to sell tobacco products to people below 20 years, smaller groceries expressed fears that refusal to sell cigarettes to youth could result in ugly scenes at the outlets.

Salem Mesmar, Assistant Director-General of the Health, Safety and Environmental Monitoring Section at the municipality, had told Khaleej Times earlier that the outlets found selling these products to underage people would be fined. The shops have been given the liberty to ask for an age proof from any customer whom they suspect to be underage.

"The fines start from Dh5,000 and would be doubled if the offence is repeated. Also, the shop would be restrained from selling tobacco products to anybody in case of a repetition. If the shop continues to do so, it will be closed down," he had said.

Nand Kumar, corporate communications and advertising manager of Emke Group, which runs the LuLu supermarket chain, said the directions of the municipality would be followed though they might face some difficulties.

"It could be a little difficult as most of the people don't carry any document proving their age with them. But we would be following the directions. Tobacco products would not be sold to people who look underage. And if we suspect anyone to be an underage, their identification details would be asked for," he said.

Kamal Vachhani, director of Al Maya Group, which has 19 supermarkets, said that they had put up a notice at each of their outlets in this connection.

"I don't think people will have a problem if they are asked for their age proof. It is a direction and has to be followed. We have put up notices at all our outlets stating that the cashier could ask for an age proof document if he/she thinks that the customer is underage," he said.

However, representatives of groceries said a refusal could make things ugly for them.

"The bigger outlets can afford to refuse people who demand cigarettes. Many customers would be very angry if we refuse to sell them tobacco. How are we going to contain them? The civic body should assure us that it would conduct frequent inspections so that we don't turn out to be the victims," said Ali Hasan of Al Marooq grocery in the Deira area.

Sources in the municipality said the inspectors would conduct random checks and investigations to ensure that the direction is being followed.