Jordan has banned people under the age of 18 from buying cigarettes or alcohol and from going to pubs or begging, according to a royal decree published in the press Thursday.
The decree goes into effect 30 days from its publication in the official gazette and is aimed at clamping down on behavior teenagers across the kingdom.
The ban extends to purchasing tobacco of any kind and also prohibits smoking cigarettes or the popular hubble-bubble water pipes.
Youths are likewise banned from going to "night-clubs or pubs" where tobacco, drugs or alcoholic beverages are served.
Youths violating the law, which also covers purchasing illicit drugs, will pay a 20 dinar ($28) fine. The fine will be doubled for those repeating the offence.
Adults who sell youths tobacco, alcoholic beverages and drugs or night-club and pub owners who serve them in violation of the law, likewise face punishment including imprisonment of up to six months in jail or up to 500 dinars ($700) in fines -- AMMAN (AFP)
