City sustained free of hookah bars by applying different acts and continued monitoring by law enforcers
 
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M.P. Voluntary Health Association, India
 
 
Publication date: 2018-03-01
 
 
Tob. Induc. Dis. 2018;16(Suppl 1):A179
 
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KEYWORDS
WCTOH
 
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Background and challenges to implementation:
GYTS 2009 says around 14.6 % (19% boys and 8.3% girls) use tobacco products in India. In last 4-5 years more than 40 Hookah bars cropped-up and attracted adolescent and youths violating the norms in Indore city of India, which has students from different parts of the country.
Hookahs are water pipes that are use to smoke tobacco by groups, poses serious health risks to smokers and others exposed to the smoke. In order to protect adolescents and youths serious intervention were needed to make city free from Hookah bars.

Intervention or response:
Madhya Pradesh Voluntary Health Association submitted evidences to District Magistrate cum Chairperson Tobacco Control Committee, orientation of Law enforcers done, directives issued, enforcement squad formed, warning announcement made and monitoring started.
Part success achieved, fine imposed but hookah bars continued their services violating the norms. Administration reviewed and decided to combine other strong acts with Indian Tobacco Control Act to completely close the hookah bars.
Administration passed order under section 144 of CRPC-public nuisance act section 268, 278 of Indian Penal Code 1860 with strict implementation of Indian Tobacco Control Act. Hookah bar operators were informed that further violation will debar them from their district for a definite period and license of their eateries and restaurants will be cancelled. Honorable High Court, reference W.P.No-8740/2015, also made decision in favor of District Magistrate.

Results and lessons learnt:
All hookah bars in city completely closed and have stopped illegal practices. Innocent customer, adolescents, youths are protected now. Every single Act has some grey areas. Violators take advantages of that.

Conclusions and key recommendations:
Planned approach, strong administrative will, combination of different acts with enforcement, systematic monitoring with support of social advocates are always helpful in sustaining the process.

eISSN:1617-9625
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