Banning tobacco products sales to adolescents in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Background: Tobacco use poses a challenge to public health in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Although restricting access to tobacco can reduce consumption among adolescents, there is limited knowledge of how to implement the tobacco sales ban policy in the sub-region.

Aim: To assess implementation of the ban on tobacco products sales to adolescents in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries as recommended in the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Methods: We used the school-based, self-reported, cross-sectional survey data collected by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey 2013-2018 among 13-15-year-old students from 5 of the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council countries. We analysed the pattern of implementation of the 4 provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that address the banning of tobacco products sales to adolescents.

Results: Implementation of key provisions related to the banning of tobacco products sales to adolescents varied among the countries. Bahrain, Qatar and United Arab Emirates implemented the 4 provisions, while Kuwait and Oman implemented only one. More than 50% of the adolescents who tried to purchase cigarettes were not refused.

Conclusion: The GCC countries should consistently implement and enforce the policy on banning tobacco products sales to adolescents as part of their tobacco control programmes. Programmes should seek to engage and educate merchants and adolescents on the health implications of tobacco use and the need to enforce compliance.