Reflection on meeting activity

Monday, 19th MARCH 2012

Reflection on meeting

Venue: W103

Date: Sunday 11th March

Present:

Chairman: Sultan

Secretary: Jasem,

Participant: Hazza

Participant: Hedley

The chairman opened the meeting on time; the discussion was about the increase of teenage smokers in the UAE; the agenda contained four items, which he pointed clearly and these points are:

-Increase of teenage smokers.

-Tobacco companies.

-Smoking in public places.

-Awareness of the society of the danger of smoking.

The chairman discussed the first item and said it is a real problem and the society is helping to increase it. Hedley asked if there is any law to stop selling cigarettes to underage youths? Jasem replied there is but greed controls these distributors and companies.

The second item we discussed was tobacco companies. Jasem said the government should force these companies not to advertise their product and   they should pay taxes; the entire group agreed.

The last item we discussed was smoking in public and lack of awareness of society of the danger of smoking. Hedley said he is annoyed because when he finishes his exercise in the club and he wants to have dinner he finds smokers next to his table. Hazza said some parents have a bad habit of taking the kids to these smoking places.

 

Recommendations:

1- Distributors are not allowed to sell cigarettes or shishas to underage youths.

2- Government should fine public places if they ignore the smoking law.

3- Tobacco companies must pay taxes if they want to sell their product.

4- Media must enlighten people of the danger of smoking.

Overall the meeting went very well; the group participated in an organized way; the secretary took notes; the participants discussed freely and gave good examples.