Smoking in Qatar
In Qatar, smoking is allowed but as a tobacco product, cigarettes are subject to some restrictions. A comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising including cigarettes is enforced, health warnings on their packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public indoor places. No excise tax is applied on cigarettes, but the total taxation rate is 68.18%. Cigarettes can legally be sold and purchased online. However, sales through vending machines are not legal. Importing tobacco products for trade including cigarettes is allowed with proper trade license. Despite these control measures, smoking remains relatively high in Qatar. Prevalence data show that smoking continues to be a public health concern, underscoring the importance of sustained regulatory and preventive efforts. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults in Qatar shows notable changes over recent years. 442,000 individuals aged 15 years and older in the country were identified as smokers as of 2024. This represents a significant increase from the 399,889 smokers reported in 2020 and 318,105 in 2019. The adult current smoking prevalence in 2024 was 17.4%, with a notable gender disparity: 21.9% of males and 3.7% of females were reported as current smokers. In comparison, in 2020, the prevalence of smoking was 20.1% among males and 1.7% among females, indicating a slight increase in smoking rates among females over the four-year period. In terms of smoking-related mortality in Qatar, data from 2021 show that tobacco smoking led to 401 deaths, representing 7.92% of all deaths in the country, with a higher percentage among males (9.5%) compared to females (2.97%). These figures underscore the ongoing public health challenge of tobacco smoking in Qatar, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to reduce both the prevalence and health impacts of smoking.
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November 15, 2022 by dailystar.co.uk
Vaping's illegal in Qatar World Cup - but Brit company offering to pay fines
Errant vapers at the World Cup have been dealt a lifeline after a UK-based company offered to pay their fines and stop them going back on the fags.
E-cigarettes have illegal Qatar state since 2014 and fans could face draw-dropping fines of up to 10,000 Riyals - around £2,200 - or a maximum of three months in prison if they’re caught.
Despite intensive media coverage in the lead up to the World Cup of a 1,000 football fans polled by Riot Labs half of them admitted to not knowing a single law in Qatar. And that's bad news as at least 30% of the 20,000 England and Wales fans expected to travel to Qatar use e-cigarettes regularly or are ex-tobacco smokers.