karnataka-bans-hookah-in-public-places-sheesha-club-owners-express-concern

Siddaramaiah-led Congress government has banned the sale and consumption of hookah. In its order, the state government has stated that hookah bar leads to fire hazards and violates fire safety laws. Moreover, intake of hookah in hotels or recreational areas makes food unsafe for public consumption, which adversely affect public health. Largely, the sale, consumption and advertising of hookah products known as hookah tobacco or nicotine- containing nicotine-free tobacco-free, flavoured, unflavoured hookah molasses, shisha and other similar names and the producing, procuring, trading of the same has been banned with immediate effect in the interest of public health in the state.

 

The violators will be booked under Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) 2003, Child Care and Protection Act 2015, Food Safety and Quality Act 2006, Karnataka Poisons (Possession and Sale) Rules 2015 and Indian Penal Code and Fire Control and Fire Protection Act.

 

Concerns regarding the increasing number of children visiting hookah parlours have also taken a centre stage.

 

The directive, unequivocally, has not gone down well with the owners of the hookah bars, as they believe banning of sheesha cafés is not a solution to the menace.

 

“People come to sheesha cafes in search of hookah; and other stuff they order — to munch or to eat — act as an add-on. Since now the government has banned hookah, the whole point of running sheesha cafes will be banal. And if the government wants to ban such cafes, then it should be done in a phased manner, so that we will get at least few years to think of a new way to generate revenue. It cannot happen overnight. We, café owners, have put in our investments in building the business. It is not just the owners, but those employed in such bars will lose their source of living, too. Additionally, the state government can decide on not issuing new licenses to upcoming hookah bars, in order to root out such establishments,” said the owner of a sheesha café situated on Church Street (he does not want his or his café’s names to be disclosed).

 

As far as the age factor or health-related issues are concerned, the same owner, who vouched that his café serves hookah to individuals after verifying their age from the Aadhar card, added: “The state government is trying to justify the amendment, eyeing the safety of our forthcoming generation. We are also not against the safety of our children. I would suggest the government to increase the age limit to 25 from 21, but would never support a complete ban of hookah parlours. Moreover, those advising the ministers should remember that sheesha cafes are not a gateway to drugs. If there are any such bars that are a hotspot for drugs then efforts should be made to identify them and seal the properties. Banning of hookah bars will only doom recreational business owners and those employed with the businesses. Protecting children from drug abuse will not be ensured in this manner. If any such ban is imposed then we will proceed legally to save our source of living.”

 

The same concern resonated with some of the bargoers. “I and my friends go to sheesha cafes on weekends to chill. It is not only a way of recreation for us but also an escape from our mundane life that we live from Monday to Friday. I do not support a complete ban on hookah bars. While health hazards, fire-safety norms, children’s safety is important, this should not eat on to our ways of recreation. We are adults and responsible for our choices, given our health concerns. In this way, only the hookah bar owners and people like us, who go to such places for some amusement, will get affected,” opined Nishant Patnaik, who works in a corporate firm, located in the city.

 

The state health minister Dinesh Gundu Rao statement clarifies that the ban is on sale of hookah in public places. But how much of its usage can be restricted in private places appears to be a bone of contention.

 

“Health hazards of tobacco is not an unknown topic. However, the manner in which dispensations at the state or Centre choose to deal with the menace in the garb of showing concern appears merely ornamental,” said Dr Narendar Reddy, a general physician practicing for seven years.

 

He, further, added: “Intake of hookah can lead to oral cancer. It affects our lungs and, thus, our respiratory organs. The content of nicotine in hookah negatively impacts one's health. Nicotine is carcinogenic, which leads to cancer, at the later stage. While it is an individual’s choice whether or not to get intoxicated by any means, I, as a doctor, believe that any business, which affects human health should be curtailed. The government’s call for the ban if imposed without any loopholes then it will bear fruitful results for the society.”

 

Suspecting the impunity with which the blanket-ban will be implemented. A local resident, Simran, said: “We hear about such bans, but very little of it is implemented on ground. Respective state governments have come up with such measures time and again and still the rampant drug abuse continues to be a pertinent part of our society, giving way to the ‘cool quotient’. It is either a failure on the part of the dispensations or people are just not willing to make responsible choices may that be bar owners or those who frequently visit such places. The onus lies on both the parties to make a world free of drug abuse.”

 

Although public health is a state subject, the state governments have to depend on the Centre for various technicalities which aid public health, as we have seen in the case of Covid-19. Gujarat, Maharashtra and Punjab governments have, reportedly, banned hookah bars by law. And how far Karnataka government will be able to implement the same is to be seen.