A law aimed at combating smoking in Bahrain had some of the fire taken out of it by the Shura Council on Monday.

They approved a softened version, without jail sentences for people who sell tobacco products to children.

Councillors dropped parliament's proposed six-month jail sentence for those who sell them to children aged below 14, sticking instead to a maximum fine of BD100.

It is currently illegal to sell tobacco products to anyone under 18 years.

They also decided to remove an article which stipulated that tax revenue from tobacco products would go to the Health Ministry, rather than the national budget.

The amended draft will now be referred back to parliament and if MPs agree, it will go to His Majesty King Hamad for ratification.

But if MPs reject the Shura Council amendments, the bill will go to a full joint National Assembly meeting for a final vote.

The draft is a combination of the original draft proposed by the Health Ministry 14 years ago and presented to the Shura Council then, but which was left on file until parliament reactivated the issue.

Under the proposed law, places such as restaurants which fail to properly separate smoking and non-smoking areas, or violate smoking restrictions, will be fined from BD100 to BD1,000 and closed for up to three months for repeat offences.

People who smoke in closed areas, including buses and malls among others, would face fines of BD50 to BD100.

Adults who smoke in cars with children aboard will also be prosecuted.-TradeArabia News Service