The Government has stubbed out all kinds of hookahs, including flavoured ones, from ‘smoking zones’ of the hotels, restaurants and even airports where smoking is legally permitted, otherwise.
According to an official notification of the Health Ministry issued on May 23, services like hookah would no longer be allowed in such zones. “In exercise of the power conferred by Section 31 of the Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, the government notifies that no service shall be allowed in any smoking area or space provided for smoking,” said the Health Ministry statement.
The owner/proprietor /manager of the hotel, restaurant or airport will also need to display a board at the entrance of the smoking area or space of minimum size of 60×30 cm with a white background and having a message in English and one Indian language. It will display messages that smoking is harmful to health and the health of non-smokers, and entry of person below the age of 18 years is prohibited. Although many users think it is less harmful, hookah smoking has many of the same health risks as cigarette smoking.
A representative from an NGO, Voluntary Health Association of India, explained that the health ministry has amended rule 4 (sub-rule 3) of the prohibition of smoking rules under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act. It was earlier being misinterpreted and used as per convenience by several restaurant and hotel owners.
‘This notification will further help in taking stringent action against those clubs, hotels and restaurants flouting the laws under Section 4 of COTPA and are serving hookahs,” he said.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) an hour-long hookah smoking session involves 200 puffs, while smoking an average cigarette involves 20 puffs. Hookah smokers may be at risk for some of the same diseases as cigarette smokers.
These include oral cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, cancer of the esophagus, reduced lung function and decreased fertility.