KUWAIT CITY, Dec 12: The Kuwait Municipality is expected to close down more than 80% of the country’s licensed restaurants and cafes when the Municipal Council took the decision during its last meeting Monday, to separate the restaurant activity from the café and prevent hookahs in the closed areas, reports Al-Qabas daily.

The source told the daily, the café is issued a license by the Ministry of Commerce, under the name ‘Shisha Café’. The municipal council’s decision to prevent hookahs in closed places is inconsistent with the environmental law. According to the owners of restaurants and cafés they have paid the fees, obtained official licenses, and they have spent huge sums of money on décor and other facilities.

The owners say they are not responsible for the conflicting decisions taken by government agencies. The source pointed out that the Municipal Council’s decision is not considered valid until now, and it is awaiting referral to the Minister of Municipality Affairs for consideration from all sides, so that appropriate measures can be taken