This might be the closest Jordan will ever get to a smoking ban.

Khaled Al Huneiti, Head of the Health Control Department in the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), announced that Jordanian coffee shops and restaurants have until the end of the current year to apply the Public Health Law, which requires them to provide two completely separate sections for smokers and non-smokers at their establishments.

Huneiti told Jo24 News that numerous cafes and restaurants have been recently found guilty of violating this law.

In the past, Jordan tried to impose a smoking ban in public areas, but it was rejected and ignored by smokers, and cafe and restaurant owners. In May of this year, the Public Health Law was amended to modify the definition of a “public area,” and to state that violators will be imprisoned for one to three months, or fined 1,000-3,000 JOD if they own the establishment, and 100-200 JOD if they were found smoking in it.

For many Jordanians, a smoking ban is a far-fetched dream, but finding a place where they can enjoy themselves without having to worry about sitting in a cloud of smoke, especially with their young children, is the first step towards a smoking-free Jordan.