News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) The Knesset approved a law on Monday that prohibits the sale or rent of nargila water pipes to minors.  The pipes, which are known elsewhere by their Indian name “hookah,” are used for smoking flavored tobacco and herbs. 

Under the new law, anyone who sells or rents a nargile to someone under the age of 18 will face a NIS 10,000 fine.  Packages of flavored tobacco used in nargiles will bear a warning similar to that on cigarette packages.

MKs Robert Ilatov and Yosef Shagal of Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) proposed the law.  Ilatov explained that the law is meant to protect minors, who often do not realize the health hazards posed by smoking a nargila.  Recent studies show that smoking a nargila is worse for one’s health than smoking cigarettes, he said.