Tamil Nadu passes Bill to ban hookah bars

CHENNAI: The State government on Wednesday passed a Bill to ban hookah bars.

According to the Bill, named Cigarettes and Other Tobacco products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Amendment Act, 2022, "hookah bars have mushroomed on a large scale in Chennai city, causing severe health hazards. Several restaurants allow consumption of hookah in smoking zones under the pretext of providing service."

It was also said that though the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 regulates trade and commerce, production, supply and distribution of cigarettes and other tobacco products there is no law to regulate hookah bars in the State and so the government with a view to prohibit the hookah bars passed the Amendment Bill by including hookah in the list of banned tobacco products.

According to the Bill, no person should open or run any hookah bar or serve hookah to the customers in any place including restaurants.

The Bill also prescribes imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 50,000 if there is any violation. However, police officials, not below the rank of SI, only are entrusted with the job of seizing hookah from bars and restaurants.