Grocery bills keep going up

A reader complains about price rises for household essentials. Other topics: smoking in cars, home ownership and paid parking.

A reader says rising grocery prices have forced him to be more careful while shopping. Asmaa Al Hameli / TheNational

Smokers put their children at risk wherever they are

I refer to Scepticism over ban on smoking in cars (August 26).

Opposition to this legislation is completely incomprehensible.

If you smoke in a car, any person travelling with you becomes a passive smoker; if you smoke in a room, everyone around you is passively sharing your cigarette; and if you smoke outside beside your children, they are still inhaling your smoke.

This is a very simple message.

As you note in your editorial, Getting tough on an antisocial habit (August 27), the World Health Organisation reports that 31 per cent of those who die from diseases related to passive smoking are children.

I congratulate lawmakers on proactively trying to prevent those adults who appear unable to choose their children first over their nicotine addiction from persistently putting their children in harm's way.

The way of enforcing this law is another matter completely, but let's believe for a moment we live in an intelligent world where smokers will think: "There is a law against harming my child, so I'm breaking the habit. "

Laura Easton, Al Ain

Household bills keep going up

I am writing in reference to Janelle Malone's Tips and tricks for saving money on your groceries (August 24).

I maintain a very detailed expenses sheet, and my grocery bill for just two people increased from about Dh400 a month in 2011 to Dh500 or Dh600 in 2012.

In June this year, I had a bill of Dh800. This includes everything bought from a hypermarket - including cosmetics, household items and so on - but it is still alarming.

My wife and I will need to keep an eye on it.

Moiz SA, Sharjah

Paid parking will affect tourism

Regarding Mawaqif parking comes to Al Ain (Augst 27)

It's a nice way to drive away tourists. What else can be said?

Mohammad Fuad Mustafa, Dubai

Home ownership blues for expats

Regarding Dubai house prices soar 32% (August 26), I think the only people who really can and should buy in the UAE are Emiratis.

They have UAE passports and can live here forever.

No matter what position we have in the UAE, or how big a house we can afford to buy, all expatriates will have to leave this beautiful country one day.

Brigitte von Bulow, Dubai

Rent, buy or squat, I'd do anything to be near a beach at the moment.

Hanan Baghdadi, Dubai

Documentary has no appeal

Your story The right move (August 27) says that One Direction are the subject of a new documentary.

On The National's Facebook page you ask "Will you be watching?"

The short answer would be "no".

L Cully, Dubai

Cultural district a pleasure to visit

I refer to More stars brighten Saadiyat outlook (August 26), about the new five-star hotel planned for Abu Dhabi's cultural district.

I drove through Saadiyat Island recently. What a beautiful drive, with great views.

Sajjad Rizvi, Dubai

US in no position to cast stones

I refer to UN team to inspect chemical (August 27) and US secretary of state John Kerry's reference to "the world's most heinous weapons" being used in Syria.

Talk about casting stones while having sins of your own.

The US dropped the most heinous weapon man ever devised on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, sacrificing over 200,000 civilians in a display of power without conscience.

It was a crime against humanity, but after such an unnecessary and dastardly display of devastating destruction, who could punish the US?

The US doesn't need proof beyond reasonable doubt that Bashar Al Assad did it. But they were also certain about WMDs in Iraq.

Why would Mr Al Assad use chemical weapons when the militants were being turned back with conventional weapons? Ray Joseph Cormier, Canada