Liberia Declares Nationwide Ban On Hookah Smoking

The Liberian government has stepped up efforts to tackle the proliferation of illegal drug use in the country by announcing a total ban on the use of hookah at public and private facilities. The government also restricted the use of Tramadol tablets to “licensed hospital settings” under the direct supervision of professional medical staff.

“Liberia is in the grip of a dangerous drug epidemic,” Health Minister Louise Kpoto said, noting that the government is intensifying the enforcement of Liberia’s public health law to “save lives, protect our youth, and safeguard national stability.”

Hookah has been popular at entertainment centers and is often wrongly perceived as a harmless alternative to cigarettes. The health ministry has, however, warned that it contains high levels of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and carcinogens that put users at risk.