Dist administration bans hookah bars

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, February 27

The district administration has banned the use and sale of hookahs at hookah bars, hotels and restaurants in the district here today. The Deputy Commissioner passed the orders while discharging his duties as the district magistrate on a representation made by the Health Department.

The order reads, “No hookah shall be placed for consumption by visitors in hotels, restaurants and hookah bars. The hookah bars thus are banned to operate in Amritsar district with respect to their offering hookahs to the visitors.”

Civil Surgeon Dr Pardeep Chawla while welcoming the orders stated that many of these hookah bars were serving tobacco molasses containing nicotine under the garb of serving flavoured hookahs, which is highly injurious to the health of people.

The hookah being a new fad among the youngsters, over a dozen such hookah bars have mushroomed in the city during the past few years. The health administration too had raided a few of these bars in the past and seized tobacco products. However, in the absence of any strict action, the department had failed to curb the business.

With the district administration passing the ban orders, any violator would be punishable under Section 188 of the IPC and as per provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act and Drugs and Cosmetic Act.

In a fresh order by the Deputy Commissioner here today, the hookah bars in the district have been banned. Over a dozen such bars had mushroomed in city during the recent years where hookah was served.

Nodal Officer of Tobacco Control Programme in the district Dr Naresh Chawla said the orders would be helpful in curbing the use and sale of tobacco products to minors.