CAIRO: Authorities have begun slapping on-the-spot fines on people caught smoking at Cairo airport, the official Mena news agency reported on Tuesday.
It said that 100 people – including passengers and airport workers – had been fined between LE 50 and LE 100 since the campaign began three days ago.
Although smoking is already banned at Egyptian airports, hospitals and schools and in some other public places, No Smoking signs are largely ignored.
Almost half of all Egyptian men smoke, consuming an estimated daily total of 20 million cigarettes.
The average cost of a packet of 20 cigarettes is between LE 2 and LE 7, depending on whether the brand is local or international.
A report last year said Egyptians spend an average of 2.5 percent of household income on tobacco – more than on health and leisure.
