Tobacco Control Wing in the state has imposed complete ban over ‘Hookah Bars’ and use of E-Cigarette as most of the youths are being addicted to harmful flavored tobacco and drugs due to this.
Anti-drugs team during recent raids at various ‘Hookah Bars functioning at Gurugram, Rohtak and Hisar districts detected large number of illegally running bars serving flavored tobacco and drugs to youths fined their organizers.allegedly violating Cigarette & Other Tobacco Products Act-2003.
Information reveals that as many as 4414 persons were fined Rs 218379 in past one year in Haryana state under this Act, of them maximum number of cases were registered at Yamunanagar followed by at Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa, Kurukshetra, Ambala and Panchkula districts allegedly selling tobacco products to minors, exhibiting publicity for tobacco products at the shops.and smoking at public places.
According to sources, action was taken against 595 persons at Yamunanagar, 588 persons at Fatehabad, 514 persons at Hisar, 386 persons at Sirsa, 281 persons at Kurukshetra, 254 persons at Ambala, 113 persons at Panchkula, 81 persons at Karnal, 63 persons at Sonepat, 56 persons at Rohtak, 43 persons at Panipat and 25 persons at Kaithal.
Sources said that state health department launched awareness campaigns against use of tobacco products to 3.5 lakh children in more than 1100 schools across the state.
The team also visited industries for awareness of ill effects due to use of tobacco products to the laborers the biggest consumers of tobacco products.
While talking to Dr Reeta Kotwal Dy Director National Tobacco Control Pogramme, she disclosed that use of flavored tobacco in ‘Hukkah’ is being served to the guests in most of marriage functions these days supplied by ‘Hukkah Bars’ She told that like cigarette, paan masala, gutka and e-smoking are very harmful for the health and state government have been directed to impose complete ban over smoking at public places and take action against violators, besides take stern action against the operators of ‘Hukkah Bars’
