Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar Announces Closure of Hookah Bars Across Establishments

Haryana CM ML Khattar declared that all hookah bars across the state will be closed down after Karnataka announced similar plans last week to address concerns related to the accessibility of hookah bars.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has declared a ban on serving hookah to customers in hotels, restaurants, bars, and commercial establishments throughout the state. The prohibition, however, excludes traditional hookahs used in rural areas. The announcement was made during the closing ceremony of a state-level 'Cyclothon', part of a drug de-addiction campaign held in Karnal, news agency PTI reported.

This move follows months of discussions initiated by Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta, who had previously urged the ban on hookah service in hotels, restaurants, pubs, bars, and nightclubs within the state. Speaker Gupta had conveyed his concerns to Chief Minister Khattar in a letter dated May, categorising the issue of hookah smoking in bars and clubs as a pressing problem, PTI reported.

In a parallel effort to encourage eco-friendly transportation and promote cycling, Chief Minister Khattar unveiled the 'Haryana Shahri Vikas Pradhikaran' programme. As part of this initiative, licensed builders providing housing facilities will be required to present a bicycle to the property owner alongside property registry papers. In cases where the beneficiary already owns a bicycle, HSVP or the builder will offer Rs 3,000 in lieu of the cycle.

The Cyclothon event, flagged off by Khattar on September 1, concluded on Monday, spanning approximately 2,000 kilometers. The event served as a significant platform for raising awareness about the adverse effects of drug addiction, as noted by the chief minister. Khattar underlined the importance of sustained public awareness efforts, emphasizing that while the Cyclothon may have concluded, the battle against drug addiction remains ongoing and must persist for at least a year to eradicate the menace completely.

Earlier, Karnataka ministers proposed not only the shutdown of hookah bars but also an increase in the minimum legal age for purchasing tobacco products. Presently, the age limit stands at 18 years, but this will be raised to 21 years to deter younger individuals from acquiring such products, they said, as per news agency IANS.

The joint meeting held by the Health and Sports and Youth Services Ministries in Karnataka resulted in a consensus to amend the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) to enforce these changes. Additionally, Rao and Nagendra announced that tobacco use and sales will be strictly prohibited in the vicinity of temples, hospitals, and schools. 

Rao expressed his concern that the allure of hookah bars is having a detrimental impact on the youth, potentially leading them towards substance abuse. He emphasised that restricting the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21 is essential in curbing this trend. Addressing the issue at its root, he asserted that tobacco products serve as a gateway to more harmful substances, and the government is taking steps to counter this problem.

"The youth are attracted towards hookah bars and it is impacting their health adversely. The sale of tobacco products to youth below the age of 21 is also prohibited. After smoking, the youth are getting attracted towards drugs and narcotics substances. The use of tobacco products served as the foundation in this direction and the government is addressing the root cause of the problem," he emphasised, as per IANS.

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