Ramadan creates good conditions to quit smoking

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health on Friday urged Muslim smokers to take advantage of the holy, fasting month of Ramadan to quit smoking, according to an Arab News story.

A ministry spokesman, Khalid Al-Mirghalani, was quoted as saying that Ramadan created a conducive environment for smokers to quit their habit because during that period Muslims abstained from smoking from dawn to dusk.

It would not be difficult for smokers to continue the abstention, he surmised.

“The hand that touches the holy Qur’an during the month would definitely refuse to touch tobacco,” he added.

Otherwise, the spokesman said, those interested in quitting their habit could avail themselves of the facilities and expertise available at 44 anti-smoking clinics spread throughout the Kingdom.

The clinics would remain open daily from 21.00 to 03.00 during Ramadan.

Saudi Arabia’s annual tobacco consumption exceeds 40,000 tons worth nearly SR12 billion ($3.2 billion), according to figures from a study by the Khair Anti-smoking Association, a private company based in Makkah.