Syria: Aleppo Restricts Cigarette and Shisha Sales to Licensed Centers
The governorate of Aleppo, Syria, has announced a decision to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and shisha (hookah) products outside of officially licensed centers. This move aims to curb the spread of smoking among children and youth and to protect public health in the city.
According to a circular issued by Aleppo’s governor, Azzam Al-Gharib, the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products, including shisha, is now forbidden in kiosks, on sidewalks, and in grocery stores. Sales will be permitted only in centers licensed by the Ministry of Economy and Industry. The governorate stated on its official Facebook page that the decision responds to rising smoking rates among children and adolescents, exacerbated by the spread of electronic cigarettes (vapes) and a decline in regulatory oversight.
Syrian governorates have generally seen an increase in smoking among younger age groups, a phenomenon observers believe has worsened in recent years due to deteriorating living and social conditions and a lack of health awareness. This decision coincides with the second phase of an anti-begging campaign being implemented by the Aleppo governorate, targeting several neighborhoods across the city.
- News source: سوريا: قرار مفاجئ يقيد بيع السجائر
- Moldova to Expand Smoking and Vaping Bans with Heavy Fines Starting June 24 - June 23, 2026
- Oregon, Ohio Enacts Moratorium on New Vape and Tobacco Shops - June 23, 2026
- Montana Advocates Push for $2 Tobacco Tax Increase in 2027 - June 23, 2026









