Mumbai:
A survey of bars and restaurants shows that Hookah bars and country liquor bars have the worst air quality. This the result of a survey carried out by city NGOs and the BMC to assess the impact of the smoking ban in Mumbai city six months after it was enforced.
"Youngsters who go to these places do not realize that the air quality in these hookah bars is worse than walking around the garbage dumping ground in Deonar," said Dr P C Gupta
Smoke Free Campaign, Mumbai.
Hookah bars have been under the scanner for a long time. In fact way before the ban on smoking in public came into place.
Last year civic authorities had cancelled the licenses of several hookah bars on the grounds that they were serving it to minors. While hookah has a very small amount of nicotine it has charcoal smoke that damages the lungs.
Most youngsters though are divided on the matter.
"I live in Mumbai and I don't believe there is more pollution inside the bar than on the streets," opined a Mumbaikar.
"I don't believe hookah bars are polluted at all. There is much more pollution outside," said another.
While health officials refused to comment on camera, the report they say will lead to a renewed crackdown.