Ladies enjoying their Shisha at an outdoor function. Nakuru puts bar owners on notice over shisha smoking. [Photo|blogspot.co.ke]
The Nakuru County Government has put bar owners in the county on notice for not providing smoking areas for shisha users.
Health chief officer Samuel Mwaura said club owners have been allowing smoking of shisha in their premises and telling other customers that shisha in not harmful to their health.
Mr Mwaura who was speaking during the launch of an awareness campaign on the harmful use of tobacco said shisha smokers should be directed to a certain designated smoking areas that such smoke does not get inhaled by non-smokers nearby.
“Club owners have been allowing people to smoke within their premises. They are promoting passive smoking but lie to customers that it is not harmful. The smokers bear the same responsibility and will face the law,” said Mwaura.
The warning comes after the Tobacco Control Board raised the alarm last week over the increased number of women using the substance.
He also warned shop owners selling single sticks of cigarettes saying it’s against the law adding that all cigarettes should be sold in packs.
The campaign in Nakuru will seek to educate the residents on the effects of substance abuse and raise concern over the increasing consumption of shisha by young women.