School, college kids getting hooked to hookah!

Cyberabad police are all set to crack down on illegal hookah bars that have mushroomed in the twin cities.

The illegality of these bars is not the only concern. The more serious issue is that some of these bars, especially those on the outskirts, are attracting college and school-going kids with their offers and getting them addicted to the vice. Syed Rafeeq, Inspector, Pet Basheerabad told Expresso that they were shocked to see schoolboys enjoying hookah parties during a raid recently on an illegal bar. Eleven people, including the staff and four minor girls, who were present at the bar, were arrested. “In another raid based on a complaint by a parent complaint, we raided a hookah bar and apprehended 11 students and counselled them,” he added. Santosh Kumar, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Alwal said a special team had been constituted comprising senior police officials to unearth hookah bars running without permission from police and the GHMC. The hookah bars offer tobacco flavoured with honey, molasses or fruit and various combinations. Starting from Rs 250 per couple, they have different packages to suit customers budgets. The hookah bars have come up as a cheaper alternative to pubs and restaurants and their business has really taken off after recession has set in. Decked out like restaurants and nightclubs, they promise to offer smokers the experience and true pleasures of the hookah. Some bars also provide DJ music. The bars are mushrooming in suburbs like Rajendranagar, Shamshabad, Kompally, Alwal and other parts of the Cyberabad. Recently, the Cyberabad police raided on Quill Hookah bar at Vensai Apartments near Kompally. The police estimate that nearly 500 hookah bars are running their business illegally in the Cyberabad limits. “We discovered that several hookah bars have been functioning illegally. These bars attract a huge number of school and college-goers. We conducted raids on two bars and the owners could not produce any licence. Strict action will be taken against them,’’ Santosh Kumar said. He warned cases would be registered against them for sale of adulterated, noxious food and drink.

 

By Mouli Mareedu