The Haryana Assembly approved a bill on Monday, prohibiting the operation of hookah bars or serving hookah to customers in any establishment, including eating houses, across the state.
The bill, named the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Haryana Amendment Bill, 2024, was passed in the evening session.
Home Minister Anil Vij introduced the bill in the House. According to the amendment, a new section, 4-A, will be inserted after Section 4 of the principal Act (central law) — The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003. This section explicitly prohibits the operation of hookah bars or serving hookah in any place, including eating houses, by any individual or entity.
The bill defines an “eating house” as any establishment where food or refreshments are provided or sold to visitors for consumption. Additionally, a new section, 21-A, will be added after Section 21 of the principal Act, which outlines the punishment for operating a hookah bar.
During the discussions, Congress MLA Varun Chaudhary highlighted a provision in the amendment defining a “hookah bar” as a commercial establishment where people gather to smoke tobacco from a hookah or narghile, provided as a commercial service, excluding traditional hookah setups.
There was also a request from the Congress’ BB Batra to define “traditional hookah.”
Minister Vij clarified that the bill specifically targets commercial establishments and does not apply to individuals using traditional hookahs at home. He addressed concerns about the insertion of prohibited substances into traditional hookahs in commercial places, emphasizing that the law applies only to such establishments.
The bill was subsequently passed.
The statement of objects and reasons accompanying the bill stated that the state government has observed the proliferation of hookah bars serving tobacco-containing hookahs in various districts, sometimes even serving banned drugs under the guise of flavors or herbs.
“Such hookah involves a water pipe system and flavoured constituent ‘shisha’, heated with charcoal. Due to the misconception of less or no risk associated with it and availability of multiple flavours and less harshness of smoke, its usage has increased significantly,” it states.
“However, smoke of such flavoured hookah contains various toxicants, which are not only harmful for the person smoking but also those nearby due to passive smoking,” it further mentions.
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