Shisha habits
This refers to the report “Parents alarmed over youths’ shisha habits “ (Aug. 29). Indeed, shisha habit is a health hazard. I think it is a misconception that shisha is a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. As a matter of fact both are very dangerous for health. Believing that shisha filters nicotine — which as a matter of fact is not true — many people take to shisha to satisfy their urge for cigarettes. The report rightly points out that nicotine does not dissolve in water so its harmful effects are very much there. Apart from this smoking shisha becomes more dangerous when it is laced up with drugs deliberately by restaurants and cyber malls owners in order to addict people coming to their places so that they may have permanent customers. Also, people must understand that smoking cigarettes and shisha will not give them any benefits, instead they will fritter away their hard-earned money plus and risk their health. It is a fact that smoking cigarettes and shsiha are the main reasons for liver and heart malfunctions and in some cases they also cause cancer. — Anees Lokhande, Alkhobar
Curb the menace
Well it’s no surprise at all. This evil did not raise its head overnight. In the initial days it was taken by the youths to “unwind” themselves. Now this phenomenon has gone out of hand. The youths have got hooked to it. It’s high time the Saudi authorities took the necessary actions to save the young generation who could be affected by life threatening lung diseases. I believe the society is finding means to tackle the cigarette menace, now to chase the shisha menace also is asking too much. The resources of the Saudi government will be stretched for long. The authorities need to aggressively educate the youths on healthy and safe living. Here the adage health is wealth needs to be stressed. Religion and health has to go hand in hand. Youths are the future of the country, it’s time we took measures to protect them before they become endangered species. — Bhaskara Sujeet Kumar, Riyadh
Drone attacks
I was intrigued reading the letter “Drone attacks.” The writer states that it is chilling to read the cold, macabre ease with which the (US) president and his staff decide who will live or die. The fate of people living thousands of miles away is decided by a group of Americans. I understand that no one dies unless God Wills. The term of every life is fixed. I wonder what comments Samaoen Osman of Cape Town, South Africa, has for us in store. — Olga Pitcairn, Pennsylvania
Traffic ticket
I would like to bring to the kind notice of the traffic authorities the fact that during my last visit to Makkah in the first week of Ramadan I was penalized for using tinted glass on my car. Due to the heat and sunlight I opted for a tinted glass option since I had 3 children sitting at the back. This option proved me very expensive. I was caught by the authorities on the highway and subsequently issued a ticket, which I deserved for opting the tinted glasses on my car. When I asked the official who handed out the ticket that how much money I need to pay, I was told SR 100, however, when I went to pay the fine I was shocked to find out that the amount was SR 500. I really want to know on what basis the authorities fined me so heavily when the official on the spot told me that it was SR 100. — Mirza Farhan Ahmed Baig, Jeddah
Letters: Shisha habits
