Al-Warka police detain teenagers in Muthanna cafes

MUTHANNA — The Al-Warka police force in Muthanna governorate conducted a targeted operation against cafes allowing underage smoking, resulting in the detention of 16 teenagers. A security source told 964media about the crackdown, “Last night, we executed a campaign on cafes within the district and apprehended 16 children, none older than 8 years, who are legally prohibited from entering these venues for smoking.”

The initiative aimed at enforcing laws against underage smoking in public establishments saw the police taking strict action against non-compliant cafe owners. “Cafe owners have been mandated to sign a written commitment not to allow underage children into their premises. They were warned of potential closure should this occur again,” the security source explained.

This initiative reflects the growing concern over the increasing trend of children frequenting cafes to engage in smoking.

Iraq still faces high smoking rates, particularly among children. Recent statistics show that the country continues to battle with a significant challenge of tobacco use among its youth