Shura Council members in Bahrain initially backed an anti-smoking law, which was originally drafted 14 years ago.

It is a mix between the original draft, which was presented to the former Shura Council in 1994 but never passed, and a parliamentary proposed law.

Under the new law, people who smoke in their cars with children on board could be prosecuted.

Traders who sell tobacco to children aged under 14 years could also face up to six months in jail.

Restaurants which fail to properly separate smoking and non-smoking areas will be fined from BD2,000 to BD5,000 ($5304 to $13,260) and closed for up to two months for repeat offences. People who smoke in closed areas, including buses and malls, will face fines of BD20 to BD50.

Parliament has already voted in favour of the new law in February and once officially approved by the council, it will be ratified by His Majesty King Hamad.

Services committee secretary Dr Hamad Al Sulaiti said that the new law has been thoroughly studied.

'We have already agreed to back all of parliament's amendments, which we believe are genuine. We hope it will see the light after 14 years of being shelved,' he said.

'Bahrain has five years to comply with international health standards and one year has already passed. This is one of the important laws, which Bahrain has been obliged to have.'

Council public utilities and environment affairs committee vice-chairman Sadiq Al Shehabi said that smoking was a personal choice, but when others are harmed, then counter measures to ensure it stops have be taken.

'I know that the government is concerned about the health of our future generations, but unless we have good role models and proper planning to ensure that it is accepted by society, we will go nowhere,' he said.

Each of the law's articles will be discussed at next Monday's session before its officially approved.-TradeArabia News Service