According to a study recently released in Yemen, there are over 3.4 million smokers, of whom nearly 86 percent are adult males, while 29 percent of them are of the age group 17-24.

The Study pointed out that Yemen has the highest rate in the world, and nearly a decade earlier Yemen spent about YR 21.3 billion in tobacco. That number is likely to be much higher today.

Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for tooth loss according to the study, which was designed to examine tooth durability and the patterns of tooth loss in smokers and nonsmokers in a selected age groups of Sana'a residents. 

Radhwan, an 11-year-old, smokes cigars while washing cars in the capital. When the Yemen Post asked him why he chose to do so at a young age, he pointed out angrily," everyone can do whatever he likes and no one can be responsible for others." Radhwan did not like the idea of others telling him what was right for him and what was not. “I know what I am supposed to do, and smoking does not harm me but it rather helps me.”

In a study released last month, researchers at the University of California said tobacco addiction is key for getting chronic disease, of which most smokers require frequent interventions over time before achieving stable self-discipline.

Though the Yemeni government has legislated restrictions on smoking in certain areas, smokers conflict the government law as they believe that tobacco is not a drug to be banned. "Yemen banned advertising cigarettes, smoking on public transport means and in educational and healthcare facilities, but who cares about such laws and rules," said Monasser Hussain Al-Sabahi.

"I don't believe that there is a place where smoking is not allowed" said 32-year-old Mohssen Mohamed Thabit adding," I don't think that decreasing the amount a person smokes will help him to quit it once and for all."

A 30-year-old tractor driver Khalied Saeed said he watches a large number of teenagers smoking shisha in tents, clubs and even in parks meant for families.

In return, 23 year-old and university student Firdows Ahmed stressed that when going to university at early morning, she suffers from smelling smoke inside the bus, claiming that she has to keep silent fearing students' comments.  "I have no other choice, but to keep silent," she said.

The Minister of Public Health and Population Abdul-Karim Rase said smoking in outdoor places is a correct way as it keeps those who do not smoke away from smoking risks or being passive smokers. "We should do our best to keep the rights of non-smokers, and give them their non-smoking space in public areas" said Rase.

He also called for issuing and enforcing laws that restrict smoking in certain places like public facilities, parks, on transportation means, etc. In this respect, he referred to law (26) of 2005 that bans smoking inside government offices and facilities.

Transportation drivers have no problem with the ban, as some taxi services including Raha and Marhaba do not allow its drivers to smoke inside the taxis in order to give passenger clean and good smelling air inside the vehicle. Even customers are not allowed to smoke inside the taxi, to insure clean air for the next passenger that rides inside the taxi. “Many families prefer to ride with us because they know that they will get complete privacy, quality, and a healthy ride,” said Salman Al-Sumairi, a Raha taxi driver who enforces the no smoking policy inside his taxi.

Bus drivers feel the same and admit that they feel bad when arguments happen in the bus due to the smoking issue. "We might lose some passengers who smoke but we could also benefit from the ban, as it could attract more non-smokers to our transportation vehicles" said 45-year- old and bus driver Mohamed Ahmed Fare.

Joining other Arab countries, Yemen's parliament approved the law meant for banning smoking in almost all indoor public places in an effort to bring down the number of tobacco-related deaths.

Studies showed that bans could largely reduce the number of cigarettes people smoke and, in some cases, truly result in people quitting.

One reason bans help people quit is simply biological. Inhaling tobacco actually increases the number of receptors in the brain that want nicotine.

Mayo Clinic’s Nicotine Dependence Center study reveals that if you had a smoker compared to a nonsmoker and were able to do an imaging study of the brain, the smoker would have billions receptors more in areas of the brain that have to do with enjoyment and motivation.