Hyderabad, Feb 12 / Wake Up Telangana

In a significant move aimed at safeguarding public health, the Telangana Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a bill on Monday, effectively banning hookah parlours across the state.

The proposed legislation, an amendment to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act of 2003, sailed through with a voice vote, bypassing any formal discussion. Without delay, Legislative Affairs Minister D. Sridhar Babu, representing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, tabled the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply, and Distribution) Telangana Amendment Bill 2024.

Elucidating the bill's rationale, Minister Babu underscored the urgent need to curtail the proliferation of hookah parlours, citing the alarming impact they pose on the state's youth. The Chief Minister, recognizing the gravity of the situation, swiftly sanctioned the prohibition, which garnered Cabinet approval without objection.

Minister Babu highlighted the concerning trend of youth and college students succumbing to hookah addiction, exploited by parlour proprietors. He emphasized the comparative dangers of hookah smoking versus traditional cigarette use, noting that an hour-long hookah session, comprising roughly 200 puffs, is exponentially more hazardous.

The minister elucidated the composition of hookah smoke, which, owing to the use of charcoal, contains elevated levels of carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and carcinogenic agents. Consequently, not only do hookah smokers face heightened health risks, but bystanders are also exposed to deleterious secondhand smoke. Minister Babu cautioned against the proliferation of hookah parlours, citing their potential to exacerbate public health hazards in communal spaces.

The decisive action by the Telangana Legislative Assembly underscores the government's commitment to prioritizing public health and curbing the spread of harmful practices detrimental to the well-being of its citizens. With the ban on hookah parlours now enshrined in law, the state takes a proactive stance in safeguarding its populace from the perils of tobacco addiction and associated health risks.

As Telangana charts a course towards a healthier future, the passage of this bill serves as a resolute step in fostering a smoke-free environment and promoting the well-being of its residents.