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Hundreds of employers and staff from Lebanon's hospitality industry took to the streets on November 7, 2012, to protest the country’s recently imposed smoking ban [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
The protestors blocked Beirut's Sodeco Square, demanding an amendment to the law which they say is killing business [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
The ban has come at a bad time for the hospitality industry, already struggling with a dip in tourism due largely to political instability [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
Traditional shisha bars have been worst hit by the ban. The protesters called for the law to be amended to include an exemption for such outfits [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
Bar and restaurant owners warned that if their calls were unanswered they would boycott the ban, which has been largely adhered to since coming into force in September [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
[Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
Protesters carry a coffin emblazoned with the Arabic word for tourism [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
[Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
Many hospitality-sector workers showed up to the protest in their uniforms, including staff from the Bayrock Cafe in Rouche [Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
[Photo: Sam Tarling/Executive]
المتظاهرون ينزلون إلى شوارع بيروت احتجاجاً على حظر التدخين الجديد في البلاد.
