KUWAIT: The national holiday celebrations next year will be completely foamless, reported Al-Qabas. The Environmental Public Authority (EPA) recently announced that an agreement was reached to ban the use or import of foam sprays in the country. The move is an attempt to control the chaotic use of the substance that has experienced an increase in popularity these past few years. “The EPA has reached an agreement with the Interior Ministry, the Kuwait Municipality and the Ministry of Health to ban the substance for being a serious health risk,” said the Director of the Industrial Environment Department at the EPA, Mohammad Al-Enizy. The substance has been accused of causing allergic reactions to the eyes and skin in addition to containing carcinogen material. “A detailed report was sent to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to stop importing or selling foam sprays in the country,” Al-Enizy added. [Source]
This was in the papers a few days ago, not sure how I missed it. I guess I am now looking forward to national holiday celebrations.
Thanks Mike
50 replies on “Woohoo no more foam!”
atlast!!! some sense
yea sure (roll eyes) fireworks are banned yet you can still buy them, and i think there is a “foam” brand thats made in kuwait so is it illegal to buy/sell it or just for using it ?
They will just substitute with another material more damaging for sure!
Thats great news, now lets just hope the kids don’t find something worse to substitute the foam.
That’s not fun really. It’s known that every Hala Feb. there has to be foam its a national thing.. That’s not really fair..
Wow thats awesome! Finally!!!!
@s1k0 This is a good an argument as the one for vuvuzelas. Bet you enjoyed that, didn’t you?
how can you compare that with vuvuzelas :\??
I’ll bet you right now that this law isn’t going to change anything one bit, kuwaitis will still spray foam and accidents will happen, Unfortunately 🙁
Finally something! And sad that it took a couple of deaths (including a cop) from last year for the change to happen.
this is BS!
foam will still be sold and used.
no law enforcement here so nothing will change.
ppl will still import and sell regardless of its ban!
i believe some of the guys behind the ban are selling these also.
don’t believe this sh!t, mark. stay at home at that time
I don’t know why this is “news” as its supposedly been banned for years. *yawn*
Just some people trying to pump up their PR. I’ll believe it when I see it.
lol.. foam will be substituted with eggs n tomatos
The foam used in Kuwait is not imported, it is made here in Kuwait by Al Sharhan Industries.
thats a good news because we planned to make a long ride on motorcycles to celebrate, but we were afraid from the foam to destroy us, because last year a police officer has been killed while riding his bike beside a car with silly kids sprayed his face with that foam, and he totally lost the bike control.
Thank God For That ! I Say Lets Bring Back The Street Carnival !
How long does it take for Q8 to take action…19years later they realise its DANGEROUS. WoW slow reaction! now if they realise that paralysing the roads for three days is DANGEROUS too….maybe in 2050. one year my neighbour broke his bk in front of our building and staying lying on the street for hours before an ambulance could reach..in agony i might add, civilized aren’t we!
Psst I got foam and if you want it hardcore I have M***F****** lol that’s next year celebration…
ok so they banned it and let’s say that also stoped producing it.. the alternative is obvious, it will be the water guns with liquid soap in them :S
no law is enforced here
1- seat belt law 8 years – still not enforced
2- cell phone while driving – only enforced on poor labourers or taxi drivers
3 – breaking a red light – only a fine
This is totally wrong! I know a company called Al Sharhan that took the exclusivity in selling the foam this year, because they are a local manufactures.
Anyway, i hope this is totally wrong! and stop these chaotic childlike behaviors!
Let’s cross fingers…
SHAVING CREAM OR WHIPPED CREAM!
I liked the foam 🙂
what r they going to do with piss in water guns??
Banned on paper
https://www.alsharhanind.com/fun.html
I don’t think so
they’ll still find a way/place to get it
That might stop the foam, but it won’t stop the horrific traffic and gay dancing in the middle of the streets. Also whipped cream, shaving foam, and even Nair will be used as substitutes. The best way to celebrate Kuwait’s liberation is to GTFO during that time.
This is good news for the ppl selling foam bc they can increase the price since it’s “banned” and “hard to get”. What bullshit.
Wala 7aram
I’m a little confused…
Some people are upset with this for some reason when it clearly says that there are health risks and whatnot, it causes accidents at the very least…
I think this is a good thing, there are other ways to celebrate our National and Independence days… mo lazem spraying people you dont know with foam, scaring their kids and possibly endangering them… There should be a penalty for anyone that bothers anyone with any kind of substitute for foam!
Wave a flag or something reasonable for crying out loud! I’m sure all of us have been taught good will towards others by our parents.
To the person that claims Kuwaities don’t get pulled over for talking on the phone… I’ve been licensed for 5 years, I’ve never had a run in with the law until 2010! Three times I’ve been pulled over this year alone for talking on the phone!
What about the locally manufactured foam cans like those from the Sharhan Industries?
Taw el nass!!! Good Riddance!
Walaw inah better late than never… though i seriously doubt that it won’t be sold under the table and used anyways…
but again what a relief to think it has become illegal… FINNALY!
We all know no one in Kuwait follows laws and rules! How many deaths, injuries and accidents did it take for them to realize?
Thats how we roll in Kuwait.
Bas we gotta give them some credit coz thats a good first step… lets see how it goes this Feb… what a shame.. instead of celebrating our country’s national day together we leave the country to avoid the maniacs in the streets… shame they make 75% of the total population.
Wickettt. Looking forward to it 🙂
YES!!
but its still gonna happen anyway. Moral victory for us though 😛
@ from here:
You forgot the no smoking in public buildings law.
Issued by Amiri decree by the late Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on May 17th 1995. Fifteen-and-a-half years later and we still watch as police smoke in the airport, police stations and malls…
https://www.glin.gov/view.action?glinID=224684
(A really interesting website BTW)
…and Kuwait is fully signed up to the World Health Organization Tobacco Free Initiative from 2003.
https://goodhealth.freeservers.com/FCTCgen.html
“The FCTC was adopted by WHO member countries in May 2003. It will commit all countries that ratify it…
…require warning labels occupying at least 30% of the area of cigarette packs (and suggests 50% or more);
prohibit misleading tobacco product descriptors such as “light” and “mild”;
protect nonsmokers from tobacco smoke in public places.
The FCTC also urges strict regulation of tobacco product contents; higher tobacco taxes…
The hooliganism, arrogance and immaturity is the problem. Ban this before you ban the foam.
I’m glad they’ve banned the foam, but the holiday has become such a national disgrace – as an opportunity for thugs and vandals – that I doubt the ban will do much to curb the chaos.
I would like to see the police bring out buses where they could shave the heads (80’s old school style!) of any hooligan using foam substitutes, squirt guns (water and/or urine-filled), hair removal foam, sticks, knives, etc. Then, with a permanent marker, write something upside their heads…. maybe like “moron” or “F-ing idiot”…
sigh it will get worse , most people will use water balls the problem is there will always be the 16-19 years old throwing and they dont know anything about holding back
Goodbye Foam..Hello hair removals and urine..
Substitues= Eggs, Ballons filled with god knows what, Neer, Waterguns filled with piss and water and soap, shaving cream, mm what else? Tomatoes? The list goes on..
Banning the foam isn’t going to stop the traffic jams on the Gulf road.
So what would you guys rather have on you the stuff from above? OR foam?
Just saying thats whats going to happen if they actually ban foam from my POV and as they were saying it’s not like their not going to sell the anyways..
maybe someone should arrange a parade and fireworks, and then there won’t be any need for foaming anyone.
There is going to be a parade. Check the statement on the bottom left corner.
https://www.kuna.net.kw/NewsAgencyPublicSite/HomePage.aspx?Language=ar
ANYONE JUST GO TO SULTAN CENTRE TO BUY IT!
Damn!!!!!!! No more foam bikini’s for me ;'(
I thnk thez no good newz foor smal cheldran they wants to be habby you no good govirmnt thet musst let theem hav fun !
I’m not sure if they can ban it completely!
if the teenagers or “the foam fans” heard of this news, then they will buy cartons, now, and keep them at home till the coming national day!
They shouldn’t control this bad situation in this way. In my opinion, they should set a site for the “foam fans” so they enjoy using it their! what do u think ?
So easy to ban stuff instead of enforcing law. Jaywalking is illegal, as far as I know. Our country is a lawless mess!
Somehow I imagine all the little ones running to every shop getting those last foam cans out of the shelves. Despite all the regulations placed for the safety of drivers and pedestrains, I witness – on a daily basis – a large majority of people breaking it all for the sake of…
Who knows what.
This is why I like to stay home during the Nationals.
Instead of foams why dont we have carnavals. each year of schools, advertisment… something more enaging than this havic