Trade and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas stressed on Tuesday that the government is committed to the implementation of smoking ban but would consider amending it to support the restaurants sector and decrease their losses.
“We have to implement this ban but we can amend certain articles in it or issue executive in favor of the restaurants sector,” Nahhas said following talks with a delegation from the restaurant owners syndicate.
The delegation urged Nahhas to facilitate the affairs of their sector to enable employees to maintain their jobs.
“We will go on with our work despite the many challenges we're facing,” Paul Ariss, head of the restaurant owners syndicate said.
Earlier, Prime Minister Najib Miqati headed a meeting for a ministerial committee tasked with studying the smoking ban.
Nahhas noted after the meeting that the committee has studied the possibility of implementing the law in a balanced manner across Lebanon.
He told reporters that an amendment might be introduced to create a hall for smokers in Hotels.
The committee includes of Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud, and Minister Nahhas.
The ban came into effect in September in accordance to Law 174, which passed a year ago.
A minimum LL135,000 ($90) fine for non-compliance with the new smoke-free regulations will be applied to both the owners and the smokers themselves.
The National Tobacco Control Program of the Health Ministry says more than 3,500 Lebanese die each year from tobacco-related diseases.
