I agree with calls for tighter bans on cigarette use in public (UAE's smoking ban must go much further to protect passive smokers, health experts say, July 11).
Restaurants and bars often use the argument that if they prohibit smoking, they will lose customers.
There are many countries in the world where tobacco has been banned from bars, night clubs and restaurants over the past 15 years. This has demonstrably not led to a decline in customers, mainly because people go out to be social and not just to smoke.
It’s a small investment to create a separate smoking room or an outside terrace and to keep the rest of your establishment smoke-free. This will protect both the customers and the staff, who should have the right to work in a smoke-free environment.
G Strik, Abu Dhabi
The statement “if smoking was banned here, we would lose a lot of customers” is a complete fallacy.
Smoking is banned in shopping mall food courts. Zero shopping mall food courts have closed because of this ban.
It is time for the UAE to step up and make the ban country wide, with no exceptions.
Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi
We should consider the effects of cigarette smoke on staff at indoor venues where smoking is allowed.
Name withheld by request
Volunteers will serve us well
It is such a big honour to serve one's country (A more mature national service, July 10).
I wish our soldiers all the best in their efforts to bring more peace to our world.
Fatima Al Suwaidi, Abu Dhabi
Khan’s actions are inexplicable
Indian superstar Salman Khan is a bundle of contradictions (Salman Khan is not sorry: actor avoids apologising for rape analogy, July 4).
It defies logic for a star who runs a foundation called Being Human to refuse to rebut a statement about rape in a country that is plagued by this menace.
Filmgoers love villains. They add spice to one-dimensional films that only have romance or comedy. Perhaps that is why the audience is so forgiving towards Khan.
Or is it simply because the actor, who was also involved in the death of a man in a driving accident, has been given carte blanche in a society where patriarchy still rules?
AR Modak, South Africa
Cruise industry is taking off
I am replying to Brett Debritz's opinion article, Forget the flightmare, cruise through your holiday (July 10).
He left out the cruise line that has made its hub in Dubai, along with Costa, since 2006.
Aida has two ships with home ports in this region. The language used on board is German, but the experience is the same as it is on other cruise ships plying this region.
There is still some way to go before the UAE becomes a big source market for people who want to take holiday cruises, but I am sure we will get there.
I am able to make these comments because my company has been involved right from the beginning in getting the home-port concept to take off.
George Varghese, RHS Group Cruise Division, Dubai
Mawaqif is not available online
I find it quite extraordinary that, for more than 10 weeks now, I have not been able to make Mawaqif payments online.
Each time I try, I receive the message: “Not found.” It is also not possible to contact Mawaqif by email. I always get the message: “Your message did not reach some or all of the intended recipients.”
And the latest news on its media page is dated October 22, 2014. It is very disappointing.
Jeremy P Weeks, Abu Dhabi
No incentive to invest in GCC
In reference to Planned GCC remittance tax could cost members' economies in the long run (July 10), it comes down to expatriates having no right to permanent residence in GCC countries. As long as there is no security of tenure, there's no reason to invest in a country.
S O'Brien, Dubai
Iraq War deaths were unjustified
The headline on Robin Mills's article says The invasion of Iraq was never really about oil (July 11).
Whatever the reason was, innocent people died. Umair Salik, Dubai
