Café Owners All Around Kuwait Decry Govt Decision On Shisha

31 October 2020 Kuwait

Several measures taken by the Council of Ministers and the health authorities to protect the citizens and residents and limit the spread of the Covid- 19 pandemic, cafés all over the country are facing severe consequences, reports Al- Seyassah daily.

The daily visited some cafés and the owners of the cafés lamented the government decision which prevent these cafés to serve shisha which is one of the favorite pastime of the patrons who visit these cafés. Some of café shops continue to work in spite of the mounting debt because due to lack of business activity they find it difficult to pay rents and salaries of their employees.

All café owners admitted that the profit from the sale of shisha is almost 75 percent. While some have preferred to close doors because they are not allowed to sell shisha, some who operate say they continue to work not to lose customers. They said how they wish the government will allow them to sell shisha and said they are ready to respect all rules and regulations and health conditions imposed on them. Some of them said a café without shisha is like a body without soul.

One of the owners of a café, who identified himself as Bu Abdullah said, he barely makes any money. He admitted the only reason why he opens the shop is not to lose the clientele.

Another owner, who identified himself as Bu Mustafa, said the rent of the shop in 3,000 dinars per month. He says he barely manages to survive and in the midst of all this the owner of the shop refuses to reduce the rent. He added, to make matters worse, the complex owner is demanding that he pay rent even for the days when the shop was closed due to lockdown.

Bader Al-Mutairi who runs a café lamented the government has opened all activities including health clubs and the Friday Market, hotels and all activities in the commercial complexes in line with the decisions issued by the Council of Ministers and the health authorities to protect people from the coronavirus and feels the same could have been done with the cafés by permitting the sale of shisha. He added, as a result of closure for several months, he is now unable to pay the accumulated rent of the shop.

 

SOURCE: ARABTIMES KUWAIT

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