As the other cities of the world go 'green and clean', Kuwait City appears to be going red. Apart from the usual ubiquitous urban problems , including garbage, overcrowding, unruly drivers graffiti etc, one sees everywhere - from elevator entrances to public buses - red spittle trails left by paan and guthka chewers, who spit the lasting and disgusting red sputum from their leaf-chewing habit everywhere.

Paan is a small parcel of betel nut, tobacco and other ingredients wrapped in a betel leaf and comprising several natural and chemical ingredients that can be harmful to users. Gutkha is a preparation of crushed betel nut, tobacco, catechu, lime and sweet or savory flavorings. It is consumed much like chewing tobacco, and like chewing tobacco it is considered responsible for oral cancer and other severe negative health effects.

The spit-marks not only spoil the surroundings but may carry diseases and germs. "Although it may dry up and disappear, the germs remain and pollute the environment," said one medic, Dr. Yahya Farouq. "Spitting is among the multitude of irritating anti-social behavior witnessed on a daily basis. It is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth. It is usually considered rude and a social taboo when done publicly in many parts of the world. Ordinarily, spitting is not a bad thing but it depends on where and when one spits.

In Kuwait, it is a common sight to see people spitting on the road or out of the windows of cars and houses etc. Some behavioral experts believe that the introduction of penalties could help to reduce the probability of some forms of bad behavior - but in the case of public expectoration, many people believe that public disapproval and punishment should be strengthened to make those with this anti-social habit give it up.

It still needs more effort from the government and every resident to achieve the goal. I wish they [paan and guthka chewers] would carry a spitting utensil or polythene bag to collect their spit and dispose of it at home. Better still is for them to kick the habit," said Jovi Marshal, a medical lab scientist.

In Kuwait, the selling, chewing and spitting of paan, especially in public places, is prohibited, but despite this regulation, the paan business continues to flourish in the busy areas of Maliya, Murgab and Kuwait City. There seems to be a large network of people involved in smuggling betel leaves, betel nuts, niswar (a type of tobacco) and other ingredients into the country.

Paan chewers turn a blind eye to the various initiatives adopted by the municipality to keep the city clean, and continue with their spitting spree, dirtying street corners, pavements, walls and staircases. I couldn't contain my anger when a paan eater sitting next to me in a City Bus silently spat it out on the floor. He soiled the environment, with many noticing him. He has tasted his paan and dirtied our environment without hesitation. It is like getting second-hand smoke from smokers," Jovi added in dismay.

Although paan and guthka are banned in Kuwait, they are easily obtained in Kuwait City, Maliya, Murgab and other areas mostly populated by Indians and Bangladeshis. Some paan-chewers equate their habit to smoking, and non-chewers agree that it shares the elements of being a disgusting habit that pollutes the environment.

There is no difference between chewing gum, smoking and eating paan. I don't see anything wrong in eating paan or guthka, but things only get bad when you don't dispose of it well. Spitting on the street, in an elevator, against a wall, etcetera, is very bad and should attract a fine but eating paan, smoking and chewing gum shouldn't be an offence," said Rahim, an Indian enthusiast in Kuwait City, who was enjoying some paan as he talked to the Kuwait Times. A policeman called Abdullah took a very different view though.

We always tell them to clear up the mess any time we catch them spitting," he said. "But it is difficult to catch these sorts of people [paan and guthka eaters]. You cannot tell people to open their mouth for checks, you know. The whole of this place is turning red as you can see," he continued, indicating red-flecked walls around the Muttahida Complex in Kuwait City, "but we are trying our best to deter them from this disgusting habit

A Kuwait Municipality official said that the municipality is clamping down on those keeping the chewers supplied. "The municipality is tightening its grip on those in the paan business by imposing a zero tolerance policy against those who make, sell or chew paan," the official told the Kuwait Times. "People caught selling or making paan will face stiff penalties.

Kuwait University student Hussein Issa wants both the government and the people to help in keeping Kuwait clean . "I think our government should do more," he asserted. "Awareness is greatly needed. The government can make rules, but it is the public who have to put them into practice. Some of these people have no civic sense. Fines are fine as a deterrent, but to ensure a clean, hygienic Kuwait, each one of us needs to respect public places, develop better bladder control and throw our litter in designated bins.