MP demands tobacco tax for sports clubs

Manama: Smokers should contribute in supporting sports, said a Bahraini lawmaker, demanding allocation of 10 per cent of the taxes on tobacco products to support youth and sports clubs.

MP Ghazi Al Rahma, who is also the council’s Youth and Sports Committee Chairman, requested to amend Law 8/2009 in relation to combating smoking and the use of all tobacco products.

In a letter to Parliament Chairman Ahmed Al Mulla, the parliamentarian proposed to add a line to Article 9 of the law, mentioning that 10pc of the taxes on tobacco products should be allocated to support sports clubs in the Kingdom.

“Sports facilities require regular funding to develop the youth and sports field in Bahrain. Allocating 10pc of the taxes on tobacco products to support these facilities would contribute in enhancing this field. The amount should be pumped into the funding allocated for Youth and Sports Ministry in the annual state budget,” Al Rahma said in his letter.

The legislator explained that taxes on tobacco products have been calculated to be BD148 million in the years 2011-2014, adding that these funds were annually entered into the public state budget.

He said “investing 10pc of these funds in youth and sports projects would have a positive impact on the vital sector and effectively contribute in its development.”

However, the figures revealed by MP Al Rahma were calculated when the taxes on tobacco products were set at 100pc. Since last month, the taxes have been doubled, indicating a simultaneous increase in the funds from these taxes.