As part of its efforts to protect public health, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing has issued a set of new regulations governing the sale of tobacco products in the Kingdom.
Banning the sale of tobacco and vegetables in grocery stores
The Saudi Ministry of Municipalities has banned the sale of several products in kiosks and grocery stores, including tobacco products, vegetables, fruits, dates, nuts, coffee, and unpackaged spices, butcher shops (fresh-refrigerated), fresh seafood, electrical and electronic appliances, cosmetics and perfumes, automated, semi-automatic, and regular bakeries, and the sale of unpackaged cheeses, salads, pickles, and similar items.
Decision to ban the sale of tobacco
It also prohibited the sale of tobacco to anyone under 18 years of age. The Ministry affirmed the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 18, with the right of the seller to request proof of age from the buyer to ensure legal eligibility to purchase.
The Saudi Tafa'ul website monitors the comments of a number of X users in Saudi Arabia on the decision. One X user said: “This is an excellent decision because most of the comments on grocery stores are about these products.”
Another one continued: “Through reading the comments, some people who don’t know how to understand said coffee, not milk. The second thing is that there is a classification for grocery stores, supplies, and central markets. Each classification has its own requirements.”
right decision
He said: “I swear to God that the decision is very correct and appropriate. Here is a criterion for young Saudis to go to the market, especially the fruit and vegetable market. The decision is in the interest of the country.”
While one of the pioneers rejected the decision, saying: “The absolute ban is illogical!!! The different standards between cities, villages, and hamlets must be taken into account when implementing such decisions. Grocery stores in villages, hamlets, and centers far from cities are considered the main source of income for the population.”
One of the users of the X website said: “This decision is old, and the area is less than 100 square meters.”
While another supported the decision and emphasized its importance, adding: “The best decision is to ban the sale of cigarettes. It is a very important decision.”
