CHANDIGARH: Despite Chandigarh being declared a smoke-free city in 2007, many pubs and restaurants continue to serve flavoured hookahs. Last year, the Punjab government imposed a ban on hookah bars in the state considering the ill-effects of this habit-forming substance. TOI did a sting to see how these hookah bars have become a favourite hangout for the youths.
Team TOI visited some of the pubs which serve hookahs too and found many such places to be situated in well-known sectors. One of the restaurants serving hookah had no mention of it in their menu. Another restaurant that had an open space in the garden area served hookah along with a live music band as their main attraction. There were no restrictions for children to enter the area who were being subjected to passive smoking. None of these pubs had pictorial warnings anywhere, though there were separate enclosures for smoking. “Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra banned hookah bars. Tobacco flavoured hookah can be toxic to health, as smoke is filled with carbon monoxide. Secondhand hookah smoke is not less harmful than secondhand cigarette smoke,” said Dr Rakesh Gupta, deputy director and chief chemical examiner, department of health and family welfare, Punjab.
Considering its harmful effects, the UT health department had submitted before the UT administration that smoking hookah was damaging the health of young people. Over the years, police and the health department officials have raided many hookah bars in the city together and even seized drugs that were being served to customers.
In some cases, the teams found traces of nicotine in the samples of hookah tobacco, which is a dangerous combination. The matter had gone to the advisory council committee. UT Adviser Manoj Parida said, “We are planning to work on the lines of New Delhi. They have not banned hookahs completely. Thus, smoking enclosed areas will be made compulsory for restaurants that wish to provide hookah.”
City-based advocate Ajay Jagga who has been demanding a permanent ban on hookah bars said, “It is a fallacy that sheesha or flavoured hookah is not harmful as the risks are clarified i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, risk of heart diseases and even cancer. Accordingly, there is an emergent need to enforce the ban on hookah bars in the city by adopting Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018. Till then the sharing hookah in open restaurant without separate enclosures must be banned.”
He added, “It is also learnt (subject to reconciliation) that hookah has the most harmful ingredient i.e. nicotine which is known to be carcinogenic. In view of the extremely dangerous impact on the youths, it is urged to take emergent steps to ensure public health and order. On August 4, Rajasthan passed a law banning hookah in the state. According to the ban, any violator shall be punished with imprisonment of one to three years along with a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.”
Team TOI visited some of the pubs which serve hookahs too and found many such places to be situated in well-known sectors. One of the restaurants serving hookah had no mention of it in their menu. Another restaurant that had an open space in the garden area served hookah along with a live music band as their main attraction. There were no restrictions for children to enter the area who were being subjected to passive smoking. None of these pubs had pictorial warnings anywhere, though there were separate enclosures for smoking. “Punjab, Gujarat and Maharashtra banned hookah bars. Tobacco flavoured hookah can be toxic to health, as smoke is filled with carbon monoxide. Secondhand hookah smoke is not less harmful than secondhand cigarette smoke,” said Dr Rakesh Gupta, deputy director and chief chemical examiner, department of health and family welfare, Punjab.
Considering its harmful effects, the UT health department had submitted before the UT administration that smoking hookah was damaging the health of young people. Over the years, police and the health department officials have raided many hookah bars in the city together and even seized drugs that were being served to customers.
In some cases, the teams found traces of nicotine in the samples of hookah tobacco, which is a dangerous combination. The matter had gone to the advisory council committee. UT Adviser Manoj Parida said, “We are planning to work on the lines of New Delhi. They have not banned hookahs completely. Thus, smoking enclosed areas will be made compulsory for restaurants that wish to provide hookah.”
City-based advocate Ajay Jagga who has been demanding a permanent ban on hookah bars said, “It is a fallacy that sheesha or flavoured hookah is not harmful as the risks are clarified i.e. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, risk of heart diseases and even cancer. Accordingly, there is an emergent need to enforce the ban on hookah bars in the city by adopting Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018. Till then the sharing hookah in open restaurant without separate enclosures must be banned.”
He added, “It is also learnt (subject to reconciliation) that hookah has the most harmful ingredient i.e. nicotine which is known to be carcinogenic. In view of the extremely dangerous impact on the youths, it is urged to take emergent steps to ensure public health and order. On August 4, Rajasthan passed a law banning hookah in the state. According to the ban, any violator shall be punished with imprisonment of one to three years along with a fine up to Rs 1 lakh.”
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