Circular No. 49 on serving argileh draws mixed reactions

AMMAN — The issuance of Circular No. 49 of 2021, allowing licensed restaurants, cafes and hotels to serve argileh (water pipe tobacco), evoked mixed responses.

Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh on Monday issued Circular No. 49 of 2021, which regulates the work of tourist and non-tourist restaurants, cafes and hotel establishments that are authorised to serve argileh.

Under the circular, which is based on the provisions of Item (8) of Circular No. (38) of 2021, and Item (5) of Defence Order No. (26) of 2021, the aforementioned facilities should abide by the provisions of Defence Orders, regulations concerning public safety, as well as procedural protocols and preventative measures determined by the Ministry of Labour and approved by the Ministry of Health. 

Violating establishments face a fine of JD1000, JD3000, JD5000, for first, second and third violations, respectively. The establishment is shut down in case of repeat violations, according to the circular.

The service is limited to customers who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Wisam Mohammad, a shisha smoker, told The Jordan Times over the phone on Tuesday that “when I choose a cafe to go to with my friends, the first thing I ask them whether or not they serve argileh”. 

She added that she is excited that her favourite hotel restaurant in Amman will serve argileh again. 

This is good news for shisha (water pipe tobacco) smokers, but at the same time it is important to continue to ensure proper safety measures are taken, Hala Bashiti, a non-smoker, told The Jordan Times.

“Serving argileh again will for sure support the restaurant and hotel sectors, and accelerate their recovery,” according to Taiseer Faisal, who works as a waiter in a restaurant.

He added that this circular will bring back many customers who used to go to the restaurant where he works for an argileh puff, thereby improving the restaurant’s financial situation.

Ahmad Khlifeh, who has been in the cafe businesses for seven years now, told The Jordan Times, that “argileh has been one of the main sources of revenue for cafes in Jordan for as long as he knows”. 

“Shisha is considered to be a common social activity among Jordanians,” he said. 

According to Health Ministry’s latest figures, tobacco consumption has claimed the lives of 9,027 Jordanians so far this year.

Smoking rates in Jordan are some of the highest in the world. More than eight out of 10 men smoke or regularly use nicotine products including e-cigarettes, according to a Health Ministry study carried out in collaboration with the World Heath Organisation.

The study also showed that more than 66 per cent of Jordanian men and 17 per cent of Jordanian women are smokers. Additionally, the study showed that 78.8 per cent of adults are exposed to secondhand smoking.