Punjab becomes 3rd state to ban hookah bars or lounges

Hookah bars have been permanently banned in Punjab as President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a Bill from the state to check use of tobacco.

Facts :

Punjab becomes third state in the country after Maharashtra and Gujarat  to ban hookah bars or lounges.

The ban was announced through law after President Ram Nath Kovind gave assent to Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018.  

The objective of this law is to check use of tobacco in various forms and prevent diseases caused by use of the tobacco products.

Background :

The Punjab government in March 2018 decided to impose a permanent ban on hookah bars in the state instead of issuing temporary orders against them every two months.

The Bill was passed in Punjab state assembly in March this year with an aim to bring the law in force to check the use of tobacco in various forms and prevent diseases caused by the use of tobacco.

The law was enacted in due check of unregulated growth in these hookah parlours and rapid increase in trend of ‘hookah-sheesha’ smoking in the state.

Moreover, there were complaints of drug consumption in these hookah bars across the state.

Impact on Health :

Smoking of hookah increases health risks, which includes exposure to toxic chemicals that are not filtered out by water.

It also results in transmission or risk of infectious disease like tuberculosis (TB) from sharing a hookah.

As per study, an hour’s average of hookah includes 20-200 puffs, delivering 50 litres of smoke contain, hazardous and carcinogenic chemicals.

By: Harman Sandhu