BMC to shut down Mumbai's hookah parlours

HOOKED ON HOOKAH: Youngsters also say that the state government would do better to focus on drugs.

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Keywords: BMC, Hookah Parlours

Mumbai: Puffing away on a hookah might become a thing of the past for young Mumbaikars.

The city's civic authorities have claimed in an affidavit to the High Court that they plan to close down all hookah parlours in the city, an initiative started by Mayor, Shubha Raul.

Raul says, "Aaj se ham log sabhi hookah parlour ke license ki jaanch karenge. Agar usme eating place ya coffee shop ka license hoga aur vahan pe hookah chal raha hoga to ham unka license revoke karne ka notice denge." ("We are going to go over the licenses of all hookah parlours. If they are running a hookah bar under the guise of an eatery or a coffee shop, their license will be revoked.")

After finding nicotine in samples of hookah, the BMC has decided to bring the hookah parlours under the purview of the Cigarettes and Tobacco Act, thereby banning it in public places and near schools and colleges. So far, 59 hookah parlours have been served notices.

Health experts say that hookahs could be as harmful as cigarettes, but young Mumbaikars feel that if there could be smoking zones in restaurants, hookahs should also be allowed.

They say that having a hookah is a personal choice and that the BMC cannot come and stop them. They say that if people can smoke, then they can have a hookah too.

Many youngsters also say that the state government would do better to focus on drugs, many of which go around more easily than hookah.