CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu People’s Forum for Tobacco Control (TNPFTC) has urged the State government not to lift the ban on hookah bars, including those that serve ‘herbal’ hookah, which was imposed by the State government in 2023.

Recent judgments of the Madras High Court have implied that if the bar owners could prove that their hookah is ‘herbal’ without any addition of tobacco or nicotine, then they could continue to serve them.

However, the forum members argue that it was extremely difficult for enforcement authorities to continuously monitor thousands of outlets to ensure that no tobacco, nicotine, or harmful substances are mixed with ‘herbal’ hookah. “We’re deeply concerned over the recent oral direction of the HC requesting the state government to frame a standard operating procedure

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