Mekelle City the capital of Tigrai state bans smoking

Tigrai Online January 14, 2015

The capital of Tigrai State in northern Ethiopia bans smoking. the first city to ban smoking in public in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa (AFP) - An Ethiopian city has banned smoking in public places with fines more than an average monthly wage, the first city in the country to do so, reports said Tuesday.

The decision by the northeastern city of Mekele, capital of the Tigray region, makes smoking illegal in bars, restaurants, schools and hospitals, as well as outdoors in stadiums and during religious festivals.

Advertising tobacco is also banned, Ethiopian media reported.

Fines have been set at $50 for individuals and $150 for owners of bars or restaurants, a stiff punishment in a country where average monthly salaries are less than $40, according to the World Bank.

Source: AFP news

We think this a wonderful decision by Mekelle city in many levels. We hope other cities in Ethiopia will follow the great example set by the northern star city of Mekelle. Smoking is becoming outdated in western world and it is banned in public places. Our young people copy all kind of bad and good cultural fads from America and other western countries, it is about time we catch up with the good things they are doing too. The no smoking ban may not stop everyone from smoking, but it will discourage many from starting and others from continue smoking.