Sheesha is as bad as its ciggie cousin

Though the State government has not woken up to the hazards of hookah yet and is not ready to ban the increasingly-popular sheesha from public places, doctors and health experts warn that it is a major health risk and may lead to addiction.

With hookah or sheesha smoking becoming a favourite pastime with many young Hyderabadis, pressure has been building up on the State government to ban them from public places. While the reports on the toxicity of hookah samples sent by the city police to AP State Forensic Laboratory are still awaited, several leaders including Congress legislator E. Pratap Reddy want a check on hookah to protect the health of youngsters.

O.N. Murthy, director AP Forensic Laboratory said as many as eight samples are being tested and the report would be ready later this week. “Pubs use flavours in hookahs to attract youngsters. Some of the pubs charge even Rs 1,000 for an hour of hookah smoking,” Pratap pointed out. He was forced to raise the issue in the State Assembly recently after the Cyberabad police noticed several youths including schoolchildren puffing away on hookahs at a pub.

Hookah as such cannot be banned unless some narcotics are used, the police argue. Banjara Hills police assistant commissioner Ravinder Reddy says, “Children below 18 are banned from taking tobacco products. We collect samples and send them to the forensic lab to ascertain whether any banned substances are used.”

However, the state government does not want to take any drastic action against smoking hookah in public places till the forensic reports come in. But the World Health Organisation makes it clear that the water pipe contains a number of toxics.

City doctors point out that even if the forensic reports are negative for tobacco or narcotics, hookahs still pose a danger, particularly to youngsters. According to senior physician Dr Aftab Ahmad of Apollo Hospitals, hookah smoking gives a false sense of security but is as harmful as cigarette smoking. “About 70 per cent more nicotine is inhaled from a hookah than from a cigarette. The chances of hookah users developing oral and lung cancer compared to people who don’t smoke is five times more.”

“Contrary to popular belief, the smoke that emerges from a water pipe contains numerous toxins known to cause heart disease and other diseases,” states a WHO report. Youngsters are made to believe that smoking hookah does not cause any harm as the smoke is passed through water. They are also under the false notion that they are puffing just chocolate or fruit flavours. Many of them are unaware that tobacco and molasses are often used to create a false sense of happiness in the customers.