ugc_banner

Maharashtra tables bill to ban hookah bars across state

WION Web Team
DelhiUpdated: Mar 28, 2018, 01:34 PM IST
main img
The move is aimed at curbing tobacco use among youngsters. Photograph:(Others)

Story highlights

Hookah sale will not be allowed at eating joints

Maharashtra government has moved to ban hookah in the state. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat tabled a Bill -- Amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Act. 

The bill proposes to check and disallow opening or running hookah bars across the state. Hookah sale will not be allowed at eating joints as well. 

The bill describes hookah bars as “establishments where people gather to smoke tobacco from a community hookah or a narghile provided individually.”

However, the bill does not propose a ban on smoking hookah at home or at designated areas similar to cigarette smoking zones where food or beverage is not permitted.

Meanwhile, Punjab government also decided to impose a permanent ban on hookah bars in the state. The government decided not to issue temporary orders against hookah serving bars every two months.

Punjab cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, approved an amendment to the Cigarette & Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003, for prevention & control of diseases caused by the use of tobacco products.

The amendment would be proposed in the Vidhan Sabha and later forwarded for the President's assent if passed by the House.