Authorities have banned those under 18 years old from frequenting coffeeshops in the Egyptian capital in a bid to stop them from smoking water pipes, officials said Monday. Police will strictly enforce the law adopted by the governor of Cairo, Abdel Rehim Shehata, as part of an anti-smoking campaign launched in May by First Lady Suzanne Mubarak, officials in the governor's office said. Violating coffeeshops will be closed and their permits withdrawn, they added. In recent years, cafes offering narguiles, or water pipes, have multiplied, attracting adults and teenagers alike.
Customers can enjoy tobacco flavored with apple and honey aromas.
Egypt, which counts more than 66 million people, consumes around 85 billion cigarettes a year, increasing at eight percent annually, according to official estimates published this year. 2001 by NewsEdge Corporation.