So just before New Years The Avenues announced that starting 2011 it would be non-smoking mall. Well it’s 2011 and I haven’t seen any change. As expected people are still allowed to smoke freely and today I even spotted a shop employee smoking outside her shop as well. We’re still the first week of 2011 and it looks like the smoke free idea has already collapsed.
I think there are a few reasons behind this.
1) There are no signs inside the mall that say “No Smoking”
2) Looks like the employees of the shops don’t know it’s now a smoke free environment
3) Not enough personnel to look out for smokers
Here is what I suggest as solutions:
1) There should be better coordination between the shops and the mall. Maybe the mall could provide the stores with a kit that contains a no smoking sticker for their door and small no smoking stands to place inside the store next to cash register. Maybe there could be a small booklet that explains to the employees why there is this band and what to do in an event they catch a smoker who refuses to stop smoking
2) There should be no smoking signs next to the trash bins and all around the mall
3) There should be more people stationed around the mall keeping an eye out for smokers
4) Create posters or give away fliers to people explaining to them the dangers of smoking and second hand smoke. That way customers will understand the reason behind the ban
5) Think bigger and create a campaign for a smoke free Kuwait and The Avenues could set an example by being the first major establishment to support this
If you guys have any other ideas post them below.
81 replies on “The Avenues still a smoking zone”
I mentioned in Twitter that this will fail and an example would be Kuwait Airport
“3) Not enough personal to look out for smokers”
Personnel. 🙂
fixed
as expected… no one is going to stick to that non smoking rule. If the policemen in the airport don’t stick to it how do we expect shoppers in a shopping mall to do so?
Unless they install some smoke detectors or fine people or give the security men the right to remove people who smoke from the premises nothing will change…
I believe our culture plays a big role in the disrespect of rules. Even if they add more security guys no one will respect them cos most of them are “bedoun” sad but true.
I would like to add one more suggestions, either having smoking zones or building smoking rooms
They did this whole situation in Marina Mall, with the fliers about smoking, the signs everywhere, and the posters. End result: smoking still prevails at Marina.
What they really need to do is set up more personnel around the mall to stop people from smoking. And these people have to be people of some authority, because no offense, an Indian cleaner telling someone to put away the cigarette is not very effective.
Also, unlike Marina, if you want people to stop smoking, then dont encourage them by putting ashtrays at every trashcan.
Ok, I agree with the whole “ashtrays at every trashcan” from Ahmed. But I’d like to add to that. Put those types of trashcans at every entrance with a huge sign showing that the Avenues is a non-smoking mall now and remove the combo trashcans from the mall itself. Granted most people won’t obey unless it’s enforced. It would be easy to put a guard at each entrance to do just that.
However, unless they have some kind of authority or ability to fine people, nothing will change. As an example, look at the parking situation. I’ve driven around the parking lot for hours looking for a spot when all I should do is park illegally. The only real repercussion is a sticker on my driver’s side window. (Please correct me if I’m wrong)
The shops should be enforcing it at least.
Mark, you do know that this will never happen
2) There should be no smoking signs next to the trash bins and all around the mall
Even if they put, people will still smoke because some of the security guys who work there smoke.
3) There should be more people stationed around the mall keeping an eye out for smokers
Won’t work, like I said, if employees smoke, then it is impossible to ban smoking in the place.
Did you know that the COPS who work in the airport smoke anywhere they want ? even near a ” NO SMOKING ” sign.
One time I was at the airport to pick my friend, there were a group of guys near a non-smoking area and they were smoking, the cops walked by them smoking also like it’s not an airport lol.
Smokefree and kuwait dont go hand in hand.
This is kuwait, where backwardness is the “in” thing.
Im a doctor, people smoke in hospitals. Aint that fucked up?
It shouldn’t be a rule. It should be a LAW. A law must pass in Kuwait and it must be enforced. Stick stickers mentioning “no smoking by Law” – fine people that beak the law.
I believe one way to stop this even faster is that since its been said that they cant actually fine people, then the Avenues should fine the restaurant owners.
To encourage the waiters and managers on enforcing the rules, every time a person smokes in their restaurant, the place its self is fined.
i like that idea N
restaurant owners in these kind of places avenues 360 marina …. etc
are not the kind of people you wanna mess up with
believe me
6. kick the smokers out.
THIS will work.
Everyone saw that coming..
Water cannons……
blah blah blah blah blah
Well I fully agree the avenues should lead this practice in the country.. Not sure what the mall management is doing. Less smoking and more entertainment this is what the avenues needs…
I know! I was at the Avenues Jan 1st and tweeted about it! Everyone was still smoking and there were ash trays in restaurants!
just add smoking areas , i was there 2 days ago and asked the security guard where’s the smoking area and i felt that this was the 1st time for him to know that the mall is a smoke free zone
lol
i doubt it will work in kuwait. 100%.
Actually there are quite a few huge “no smoking for a healthier environment” signs around the mall and no smoking signs on every enterance door in the parking.
what is it with u people and smokers?
just leave us the *bleep* alone and stay in ur “smoke-free” zones!
What smoke free zones?
ur local gas station.
No, thanks. But you have no problem inhaling things that bad for you, how about you go chill out there instead?
No i’m fine where i am with the rest of society.
I was at apleebees and on every table there was an ashtray!! Their new menu is awesome by the way.
I just got back from a buisness trip in Mumbai and apperently the malls there are smoke free zones and funny thing is no one was smoking.. I asked my buisness partner how they enforce it. And he replied do you remember the security check and pat down we went through before entering the mall and I said yeah … so?? He went on to reply that because of the recent terror attacks all malls have installed metal detectors with pvt security at the enterances and all visitors go through a pat down after the detectors same as the airport. Ladies are checked by female and men by male security. All bags are checked. Now the mall owners apparently have used this ordanance to enforce the no smoking rule in their malls. So if a pack of cigarettes turn up during a pat down or bag check they very polietely remind you that the mall is a smoke free zone and that you are not permitted to take the pack in. You can either return to your vehicle keep it there and come back or trash it in front of them and enter or not enter the mall at all.. your choice. First time visitors are usually annoyed and upset but go with the flow and make no trouble. Regulars are allready aware of the rule and dont walk in with any packs period. Plus the fact that security carry very heavy batons which they are not afraid to use and usually band togather for a beat down usually helps 🙂
I wonder if that would work here in Kuwait…. Check posts at all enterances ???
that sounds like a horrible idea. you have to leave your packet at the door? that’s extremely inconvenient. i no longer go into ikea for example if i have a shopping bag with me because they take down your civil id number and force you to leave your shopping bag at the door.
Mark: On that subject, don’t you think it is silly that IKEA and others make you leave your shopping bag with them but women with huge purses can walk right on in? I too avoid IKEA and Carrefour for these reasons if I’m carrying shopping bags.
I do which is why I sent IKEA the following email today:
Hi, I would like to complain about something I find offensive and invasive. I now no longer pass by IKEA if I have a shopping bag with me because I now am forced to provide you with my civil ID number and leave the bag at the front door before I go in.
Firstly I find it offensive that IKEA believes I would steal something. Secondly I find it invasive and excessive that you require my civil ID # if I am to visit your store with a shopping bag.
If you have a problem with people stealing my recommendation would be to install security cameras or electronically tag your items instead of assuming everyone of your customers who were previously shopping at the mall is a thief.
thanks
mark
LOL … hope they reply positively to you
smokers rule!, no one is gonna enforce the law!! ;D
Cancer rules! Wait, we’re not cheering on stupid things? Nevermind.
Yeah, just like in London in July 2007 they banned smoking indoors and in public places, also gave out to every shop, cafe, restaurant a No-Smoking Kit (Stickers, flyers, etc.), here its just a mall and they cant keep the ‘No Smoking’.
sorry to say but i think there is enough air in this ‘indoor city’ we call Avenues to let people smoke. Whatever.
Leaving your shopping bag at door when you enter the store is different mark… when you exit you take it with you. And I agree that the civil ID part is a bit excessive. In this case its not your shopping thats been held.. your shopping wont pollute the air we breathe as walk along the corridors and into shops and restaurants.In the case of the Munbai malls its a choice to enter with cigarettes or not enter at all. If I was a smoker I’d ask myself can I not afford to destroy or do without 500 fils worth of poison sticks and enjoy s day at the mall?? or is it really worth the hassle of causing a ruckuss over a pack of cigarettes??
I think it’s very offensive to have IKEA or any other shop think I am going to steal from them if they let me bring my shopping bag inside with me. This reminds me, I need to email IKEA and complain about this.
Maybe they could start by removing all the ashtrays in the firts place.
Since they are there, their purpose is widely know. and that gives others the impression that it is ok to smoke here.
Once they remove all ashtrays, people will start ashing on the floor and stuff. Then you could fine them for not only smoking, but for littering and the tarnishing of property.
A TRIPLE WHAMMY!
devil thinking i think u should consider a job on credit policy unit in the banking sector 🙂
lol, are you hiring?
I remember being at a McDonald’s once and this one guy lit up, so the manager came over and asked him to put out the cigarette. By the end of that conversation, he’d been given an empty cup to use in place of an ashtray.
I don’t think a lack of ashtrays would do it…Inconsiderate people will think nothing of dropping ash all over the place.
that’s why they need to enforce the law.
Instead of our MPs wassting our time on drama crap to secure their seats for the coming elections, maybe they should focus on these issues that directly affect the citizens.
More importantly, if they really want to get serious about this issue, then they will need proper law enforcement. Mall security will not do it.
They need Judge Dredd!
Would you believe it I still haven’t watched that movie.
you should. It earned Stallone a raspberry award 😉
“If anyone doesn’t like smoking, they can GTFO of Kuwait” LMAO.
Mark I hope you didnt misunderstand my 1st post… you dont leave anything at the mall enterance … u just dont carry any cigarettes in. You can carry anything else in….all the shopping bags u want as long as it doesnt pose a security risk or its not a PACK of cigarettes 😉 Individual shops in the mall however do have the right to ask you to leave your other shopping bags at their shop enterance doors just to prevent theft.
There shuld be sumthn like a mobile smoke detector.whnever it sences someone puffin out..shower that person wt wather!!it’ll b fun..haha..
Bt on a serious note,Mumbai is a diffrent story,you cant enforse rules like that here in Kuwait.Security guards over ther,have the authority to enforce rules..whould tht b possible here? nahaa..
The best way is through education. Now, there many ways people can be educated. Lets start from the schools( I am nt sure if they do it already).
@not dead yet
The default should be smoke free zones. If you have little kids you don’t want them inhaling the smoke of 3agad trying to look cool. I don’t care of people drink in public because it only hurts them, smoking is worse because you’re hurting people that can’t get around it – with drinking just stay out of bars.
i’m sure u know that there r smoking and non-smoking “sections” everywhere in kuwait, just stick with the non-smoking ones and u and ur kids will be fine.
hey if someone comes up to me in a smoking section and tells me to put it out, i just tell them to go and sit their ass in the non-smoking area and both of us will be happy.
Oh wow, none of us EVER thought of that! Probably because smoke travels and will drift over into the non-smoking areas, but we won’t hold your horrible cognitive skills against you. Probably all those chemicals you’ve been inhaling burnt up a few crucial brain cells.
ha! thats a good attempt at comedy if i ever read one. my brain cells are all intact, thank you.
it just amazes me to see people who are so full of themselves and who think they’re actually helping their local community can be so arrogant that they get so pissed off at people with an opinion opposite to theirs. do u have to be right all the time, little boy?
hey if u have an opinion, just say it and hope people will listen. don’t force feed it to us. yes, i have a right to my own opinion; and no, i shouldn’t live by yours.
Weird. So I’m forcing my opinion on you by not wanting to inhale your carcinogens, but your belief that you should have the right to force people to do just that isn’t making us live by your opinion?
I wouldn’t be so sure about your brain cells. Nobody asked you to help anyone, but you sure as hell shouldn’t have the right to hurt them. Also I notice you haven’t addressed my actual point, which is smoke travels. But that’s understandable, seeing as your point is “I want to keep on being an entitled brat”.
As a smoker, I lived in several places where I was affected by No Smoking LAWS. As a Law, it is not a suggestion, but more like if you dont follow the law you pay a price. This Law must apply to all enclosed public areas, not just 1 or 2 places. And the penalty for example with avenues would be to fine the mall owner, until he/she can control the activities in the mall. Those caught smoking also pay heavy fines, lets say 500 K.D the first offence, 1000 K.D the next,…. so ignorant, arrogant people will be slighty less arrogant and rich after being caught smoking a couple of times. Its not complicated, and other countries have done it before Q8, so why try to re-invent the wheel as they say.
ay shay, who cares really?
if it bothers you this much
stay out of avenues
dont know why but all
this preaching is pissing
me off
same, Avenues is HUGE. Lots and lots of air and ventilation.
That is an especially compelling argument. Have you considered joining a debate team?
you have a lot of attitude. Sound like a very negative person. Hah.
Maybe I am, but that doesn’t make your argument (or lack thereof) any better.
I disagree with security advisor. In Mumbai, the malls do not have authority to instruct a customer not to bring a cigarette pack in. They just ensure that they don’t smoke inside.
Moreover, why it works in India is because there is a law which prevents you from smoking in public places. So its not the mall who is apparently the one that issues a directive in this regard but its part of a greater law that the public is aware of.
I feel the government of Kuwait should pass a law which says that smoking is banned in public areas. People respect state laws and not institutional laws. If such a law is passed, establishments can easily enforce them without heavy objections.
Lol if you can’t wait an hour to smoke because you’re a weak person I think you should be staying out of avenues not me. And it doesn’t matter where you go everyone smokes, I want avenues to do this so this thinking takes over Kuwait. We’re still a 3rd world country being exPloited by tobacco companies and loving it.
Epic FAIL. Not happening.
Mall cops aint gonna do it(especially as they aren’t really empowered); Police handing out tickets might. But I still doubt it will be enforced.
I agree with Abz – if people are still smoking in hospitals in Kuwait, it is indicative of the collective mentality here.
Maybe the mentality is similar to what it was in the late 70’s/early 80’s in the US when a healthy lifestyle was starting to catch on, but the concept hadn’t quite been sold…
When I go back to the US these days, I’ve noticed that people who smoke are almost considered vulgar. It aint cool.
They should increase the price of tobaco like in uk for example . One packet cost 6 pounds.
Not alot of ppl will smoke as much as they are doing right now.
Your entire post could have been summarized by:
“Doh!”
Everyone knew this wouldn’t work – as others have mentioned, it doesn’t work at the airport, it doesn’t work in hospitals so forget about malls.
yes but i’m an optimistic person, i have hope 🙂
“Chantix kills” should be required on the “No smoking” signs.
Non-Smokers please go to another Mall
No. How about that? Just no. But since we’re giving migration suggestions, how about you move to another planet and spare us your drivel?
I was really hopeful this project would work.
Until I saw two ladies blow puffs. Charming.
The move almost made me forget that it’s “supposed” to be a smoke free zone.
The only real “Smoke Free” place in Kuwait is the on board airplanes.
As of this morning The Avenues is still a “Free to Smoke” zone 🙂
It will fail for sure and with no doubt, I am a smoker and I am so happy with that regulation BUT who will stop the smokers in Avenues.
Formula: RULES-PUNESHMINTS & seriousness=FAIL BIG TIME felows
Education, education, education…
That’s how we can stop smoking.
The whole world has known for years that smoking dramatically increases your chances of dying from one of many nasty, unecessary diseases.
In Kuwait, most kids have no idea of the dangers. Many adults do, but still smoke.
Weak personality – can’t give up / lack of intelligence – won’t give up / lack of self-respect – will put fingers in ears and deny, deny, deny!
We are too good at denial.
Continue to take your drugs. Be a drug addict in front of your children. Damage their lungs too. Your children will probably be drug addicts (smokers) too. Have a cigarette, go pray,have nicotine in your blood when you’re praying.
Now tell me I’m wrong…
you are wrong
People here smoke in hospitals? In designated smokoing rooms, or the general area? Are you serious? WTF, thats just wrong!!!
In Amiri, people smoke everywhere in the hospital, in the crowded lifts, in the wards, in the waiting areas, and when they want to hide & smoke they do it in the stairway then you can smell the smoke in the 9th floor. And not only visitors smoke but the staff as well :(( and the management can’t do anything about it.
In our office, the WC or comfort room is tagged as cigarette room by some girls. some girls in office smoke inside the WC. So if you like to have a cigarette smell, just go to our WC and you’ll have that scent all over your body. 🙁 . Tahts why im avoiding in using our WC. I can’t send complains in HR because the girls who smoke are HR. 🙁